27-year-old Italian alpinist dies while mountaineering in Pak

Islamabad: An Italian mountaineer died while he was skiing down a 6,000–metre peak in Gilgit Baltistan, the northern most administrative territory of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials said on Saturday.

“Leonardo Comelli, the 27-year-old alpinist, fell down while he was attempting the first ever ski descent at the north-west side of Laila Peak,” said Karar Haidri from Alpine Club of Pakistan.

According to the preliminary reports, Comelli crossed his skis during a traverse and fell approximately 400 down steep mixed terrain, losing his balance.

Highlights:

• Comelli had been a part of a four-member Italian expedition that reached Karakoram – mountain range spanning the borders of India and Pakistan last month.
• The other expedition members, who are Carlo Cosi, Zeno Cecon and Enrico Mosetti, are unhurt.