Final K2 survivor airlifted from mountain

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

GILGIT, Pakistan (AFP) — A Pakistani helicopter plucked the last known survivor of a climbing disaster from the slopes of K2 on Wednesday, ending a gruelling five-day ordeal on the world's second highest peak.

Severely frostbitten Italian mountaineer Marco Confortola was being airlifted to hospital after bad weather cleared up overnight and allowed a military chopper to come save him at a 5,200-metre (17,060-foot) camp.

"Marco has been rescued by a helicopter from the base camp this morning," Italian embassy spokesman Oddo Sergio told AFP.

"He is about to arrive in the town of Skardu, where he will undergo medical examination and hopefully fly to Islamabad today," Sergio said.

An army-linked firm that operates the helicopter, Askari Aviation,...