Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara, who had received serious injuries after falling from a mountain about ten days ago, has breathed his last. He was 66, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.
Climber Ali Raza Sadpara had fallen off a mountain during a routine climbing practice session near his village in Gilgit on May 17 last and sustained serious wounds.
According to Ali Raza's family, Sadpara has been under treatment at a local hospital in Skardu where he breathed his last.
Funeral prayers of Ali Raza Sadpara, teacher to a whole generation of climbers, was offered at Olding Graveyard.
Ali Raza Sadpara had the honours to climb Pakistan's 8,000m high peaks 17 times. He was also a teacher of the late Ali Sadpara and Hasan Sadpara.
According to Karar Haideri, the secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Sadpara was on a routine training expedition in his village when he lost his balance and slipped off the mountain. “He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors had confirmed that his ribs and backbone had received serious injuries,” he said.
Pertinent to note that Sadpara was eyeing to summit K2 – the highest peak in Pakistan – this season as this was his only peak left for climbing among all eight-thousanders in Pakistan.
In the past, Ali Raza Sadpara has summited the Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, Gasherbrum II and Nanga Parbat for a record collective 17 times and raised the Pakistani flag on 8000-metre summits more times than any other mountaineer.
Sadpara had made two attempts to summit K2 in the past but both went unsuccessful due to the weather.
COAS General Bajwa's condolence
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has expresses a grief on the sad demise of renowned Pakistani Mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara.
The COAS said in his message, “May Allah Almighty bless the departed soul in eternal peace, Ameen”.
Reporter Rozina Ali