A team of eight mountaineers led by Naila Kiani successfully recovered the body of Muhammad Hassan Shigri from an 8,200-metre peak on K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.

The recovery mission, which took three days from the bottleneck to the base camp, is the highest-ever body retrieval on K2.

Hassan’s death last year gained worldwide attention due to ethical concerns, with reports indicating that other climbers had bypassed him without offering assistance during his critical condition.

Kiani, who was approached by Hassan’s family, assembled the team quickly to take advantage of the weather window.

The team included experienced high-altitude climbers such as Dilawar Sadpara, Akbar Hussein Sadpara, Zakir Hussein Sadpara, Mohammed Murad Sadpara, and Ali Mohammed Sadpara, along with a logistics manager.

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Pakistani mountaineer Hassan dies near K2

This unprecedented rescue mission not only aims to provide a dignified burial for Hassan, but also showcases the exceptional skills and dedication of Pakistani high-altitude workers. Previous attempts to retrieve the body had been too costly and did not receive approval from the authorities.

Kiani, who scaled Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest peak, in May 2024, becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer 11 of the world’s 14 highest mountains, emphasized the significance of this mission, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of the first summit of K2.