HOPES WERE fading last night for the survival of Irish mountaineer Gerard McDonnell (37), who was among a number of international climbers reported missing at the weekend during a descent from the summit of K2, the world's second-highest mountain.
Reports from Pakistan last night stated up to 10 climbers were unaccounted for, including Mr McDonnell and colleagues from France, Norway, Korea, Serbia and Pakistan. Among them were seasoned Everest summiteers, some of whom were on their second and third attempts on K2.
Rescue efforts by climbers at camp four, just below 8,000m (26,250ft), proved unsuccessful, and surviving mountaineers were forced to descend. The Dutch leader of Mr McDonnell's Norit K2 team, Wilco van Rooijen, survived after three days in sub-zero temperatures.
Prayers were said in Mr McDonnell's home town of Kilcornan, Co Limerick, yesterday, as his mother Gertie and siblings JJ, Martha, Stephanie and Denise awaited further reports from Pakistan.
The family said they were "extremely proud of the many heroic and brave achievements of our son and brother Gerard. He brought honour not only to us, his family, but the whole country when he became the first Irishman to summit K2 on Friday last.
"Gerard's love of mountain climbing was surpassed only by his love for his family and friends. Our thoughts are with his long-time girlfriend Annie in his adopted home of Alaska, where he lived for the last 11 years."
President Mary McAleese, who met Mr McDonnell earlier this year after his participation in the Antarctic Beyond Endurance expedition, conveyed her sympathies. "My thoughts today are with the McDonnell family as they come to terms with their great loss. Following so closely on their righteous pride, and that of the country, at Gerard becoming the first Irish person to scale K2, it is truly heartbreaking that they must now contemplate the loss of a beloved son and brother," Mrs McAleese said.
Minister for Sport Martin Cullen said his thoughts were with the McDonnell family.
The joy his family experienced "at Ger's extraordinary accomplishment in reaching the summit of the world's second-highest mountain is now very sadly mixed with one of great concern", he added. The Minister said, "Ger's drive, courage, bravery and ambition are an inspiration to us all."
Mr McDonnell, who became the fourth Irishman to climb Mount Everest five years ago, had reached the 8,611m summit of K2 on August 1st as part of the Norit K2 expedition.
