Broad Peak: all hope lost for Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski

Krzysztof Wielicki has called off the Polish winter expedition to Broad Peak. The bodies of Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski will remain up on the mountain.

A few minutes ago Krzysztof Wielicki, leader of the winter expedition of Polish Mountaineering Association to Broad Peak, published a brief report on the official website stating that there is no more hope for Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski, the two mountaineers reported missing on Wednesday morning after having summited the 12th highest mountain in the world. We believe nothing more needs adding to the words of Wielicki which are published below:

"Considering all the circumstances, conditions, my experience, history of Himalayan mountaineering, knowledge regarding physiology and high-altitude medicine as well as consultations with doctors and co-organizers of the expedition in Poland, I have to declare Maciej Berbeka and Tomasz Kowalski dead.

Taking into account the time that has passed since the last contact, altitude where it took place, their condition, current weather conditions and all other factors, I have to claim openly that both climbers are dead.

The expedition has come to an end. We are packing the base camp and start to descend. March via the Baltoro Glacier will take approximately 5 days. We will come back to Poland on approximately 20th March. Due to lack of electricity, we will not have any possibilities to maintain contact via telephones or e-mails and thus, the will not be any information about us till approximately 15th March."

Krzysztof Wielicki
Leader of the winter expedition of Polish Mountaineering Association to Broad Peak


05/03/2013 - Broad Peak first winter ascent by Polish expedition!
06/03/2013 - Difficult hours for Poles on Broad Peak first winter ascent
07/03/2013 - Simone Moro, the drama on Broad Peak and winter mountaineering in the Himalaya