‘Last chance’ mission to find Russian climber stranded 23,000ft up a mountain

A drone is to be dispatched to find a stranded Russian climber in a ‘last hope’ to save her.

Natalia Nagovitsina, 47, is stuck at nearly 23,000ft on the Pobeda peak in Kyrgyzstan after fracturing her leg on her descent on August 12.

A search was suspended due to severe weather conditions for the 42-year-old, who is exposed to extreme temperatures as low as -23°C.

The drone mission is expected to be launched today due to favourable weather conditions, with the aim of ascertaining the climber’s condition.

If she is found alive, rescuers hope to evacuate her with the help of a Eurodrone, a remotely controlled plane.

Local media sources say the weather is worsening on the peak as the end of the mountaineering season approaches.

Pobeda or Victory Peak is the highest point in the Tian Shan range, which stretches across the border with China.

The conditions have been so severe that one mountain climber has died trying to rescue Nagovitsina.

Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigaglia lost his life after he set out with a German climber to try and save the stranded climber.

He died of hypothermia after the pair were caught in a blizzard.

Sinigaglia’s sister Patrizia said he ‘carried out an act of great courage’.

A defence ministry Mi-8 helicopter also crashed while trying to locate Natalia.

Another helicopter dispatched on the search was forced due to poor visibilty.

Search leader Dmitry Grekov said he was doubted Natalia was still alive.

He said: ‘I think not, because she has been there since August 12 – count how much time has passed….

‘It is unrealistic. It is unrealistic to survive at such an altitude.’

Nagovitsina has previously experienced challenges while on expeditions.

Four years ago, she survived by miracle after she refused orders to leave her husband Sergey, who had suffered a stroke at 22,638ft on Khan Tengri.

Sergey’s body was lost and never recovered,

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