17.08.09 - 11:49 -
Recent photo of Óscar Pérez (right) with climbing buddy Álvaro Novellón. / EFE
The search for Spanish climber Óscar Pérez, who for the past 10 days has been somewhere on the side of Pakistan's Mt. Latok I, was suspended due to bad weather, the Huesca-based Peña Guara Club, to which he belongs, said on Sunday.
"By common agreement of the three working groups (Base Camp, Skardu and the Peña Guara Club) on the rescue operations, we decided to suspend the search activities due to the ... bad weather which hinders continuing with this task, the technical difficulties of the route, the slim possibilities of finding Óscar alive and, above all, the risk to the safety of the ... bearers and the climbers on this difficult wall (of rock) in bad conditions," the club said.
In the communique, the club adds that in coldly analyzing the situation it had given the order to suspend the operation and had communicated that decision to Sebastian Álvaro with Skardu, the Spanish ambassador to Islamabad, Gonzalo Quintero, and to Jordi Corominas at the Base Camp giving instructions for the rescue group to return to Spain.
The organization said that everyone involved in the search and rescue operation wanted to express their thanks for the show of support by so many people who had contacted them regarding this situation and for the efforts and support of officials in Spain and Pakistan.
Team
"We want to especially thank the team operating in Pakistan, particularly Sebastian Álvaro, the U.S. and Spanish mountain climbers, the high altitude bearers and Base Camp bearers. All those who, during these days, are working to the limit of their abilities," the communique reads.
"We want to especially thank the team operating in Pakistan, particularly Sebastian Álvaro, the U.S. and Spanish mountain climbers, the high altitude bearers and Base Camp bearers. All those who, during these days, are working to the limit of their abilities," the communique reads.
"In these moments of sadness and frustration, it ... remains for us at Peña Guara to express our understanding to the families and loved ones of the expedition members," the message concludes.
Perez, according to reports, was at 6,300 meters (20,655 feet) on Latok I after suffering a fall in which he broke an arm and a leg, ending up unable to move.
The climber fell Aug. 8 while scaling the north face of Latok I, which rises 7,145 meters (23,456 feet) above sea level.
