Milan, August 21 (LaPresse) – Luca Sinigaglia, a 49-year-old mountaineer from Milan, was the Italian climber who tragically died on Pik Pobeda (7,439 m), also known as Victory Peak, the highest point in the Tian Shan mountain range, on the border between Kyrgyzstan and China. Many messages in his honor have been shared on social media, reflecting on his extensive mountaineering experience. Sinigaglia passed away while attempting to rescue Russian climber Natalia Nagovitsyna, who had become stranded with a broken leg while descending on August 12. Over the following days, together with a German mountaineer, he assisted Nagovitsyna, providing her with essential supplies, until he became trapped in a snowstorm at high altitude. Sinigaglia died from cerebral edema caused by altitude sickness, compounded by hypothermia and frostbite. According to the Italian Alpine Club's portal, Lo Scarpone, based on information from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense and local newspapers, some climbers were also injured during the descent. On Saturday, August 16, a Mi-8 military helicopter was dispatched to the area with six rescuers aboard. However, due to adverse weather conditions, the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at over 4,000 meters, which almost turned into a tragedy. Several rescuers and crew members sustained injuries during the rough landing. A second helicopter was sent to continue the rescue mission. Those injured were transported to Karakol hospital, and none of the injuries were life-threatening. Due to worsening weather and the onset of night, the evacuation of the climbers was not completed immediately. Rescue operations resumed the following day.
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