Silvio
Mondinelli, Abele Blanc, Mark Camandona, Mark Barmasse
and the remains of Christian Kuntner have already
been evacuated, according to Italian media.
Gnaro
is devastated, reporting that the ice avalanche
hit in a place where it had already struck three
times. This morning, the avalanche came again
- ice boulders struck the climbers and Christian
died from
inner hemorrhages in Camp 2.
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A doctor from Colorado tried to save his life, but
Christian was too seriously hurt. Silvio told the
media that Abele Blanc was upset and under shock.
Both Christian and Silvio had summited the mountain
before the avalanche struck. Annapurna was Christian's
ultimate 14, 8000er climb. It became his last one.
Christian Kuntner (South Tirol, 1962) climbed 14,
8000+ mountains: Cho Oyu in 1991, Manaslu in 1992,
Broad Peak in 1993, Dhaulagiri in 1994, Everest through
the North West Ridge 1995, K2 in 1996 by the Japanese
route through North face, Shisha Pangma in 1998 (descent
on Skies), GI and GII in 1999, Makalu in 2000, Nanga
Parbat in 2001, Kangchenjunga by a new route in 2003,
Lhotse in 2004 and Annapurna in 2005.
After former attempts in 1997 (north side), 2002
and 2003 (south side), Kuntner returned this Autumn
to Annapurna, the last of the, 14 8000+ for him to
summit.
Image of Christian, on top on the summit of Schreckhorn,
courtesy of Christiankuntner.com.
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