Heroic Climb Turns Fatal Italian Mountaineer Gives His Life to Rescue Friend on 25000 Foot Peak
Italian climber Luca Sinigaglia 49 tragically died on Kyrgyzstan’s Pobeda Peak during a second rescue attempt to aid a wounded friend The search for Natalia Nagovitsyna 47 continues amid dire weather and high altitude dangers .
The Rescue in Desperate Peril
On August 15 2025 49 year old Italian climber Luca Sinigaglia died on Pobeda Peak also known as Victory or Jengish Chokusu in Kyrgyzstan’s Tian Shan range which rises to about 24406 feet 7439 m His mission was to save Natalia Nagovitsyna a 47 year old Russian climber stranded near the summit with a broken leg .
Nagovitsyna sustained her injury on August 12 leaving her immobilized at one of the world’s harshest altitudes Refusing to abandon her Luca made two separate ascents carrying crucial supplies including a tent food water sleeping bag gas cooker and other gear an extraordinary feat of strength and loyalty in such perilous conditions .
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A Selfless Climb Ends in Tragedy
During his second climb just a few hundred meters from where Natalia was stranded Luca collapsed inside an icy cave Exhaustion extreme cold and oxygen deprivation likely led to hypothermia and cerebral edema Despite his heroic efforts he did not survive His body was later recovered from the cave .
His sister Patrizia paid a heartfelt tribute He would never have left anyone behind His was an act of great courage that we will remember with pride .
Rescue Operations Faced Corner After Corner
The rescue mission was beset with dangerous setbacks Temperatures plummeted to 23 °C gale force winds swept the mountains and the terrain itself made progress treacherous A helicopter dispatched for the rescue even crashed injuring four crew members and forcing further delays .
Drones later spotted Natalia alive on August 19 but her tent was torn by the wind and hopes of survival began to fade Experts from the Russian Mountaineering Federation explained that rescuing her would require at least 30 climbers traversing a 3 kilometer ridge an operation deemed nearly impossible under the circumstances .
Final Outcome Rescue Called Off
By August 22–23 Kyrgyz authorities officially called off the mission Despite brief improvements in weather the altitude severe risks and elapsed time left little hope of survival Three Italian rescuers who volunteered for a helicopter recovery mission awaited government approval but the chances of reaching Natalia diminished with each passing hour .
The Bond That Fueled the Ascent
Luca and Natalia’s connection stretched back to 2021 when they climbed Khan Tengri together During that expedition Luca helped Natalia and her husband Sergei descend safely Following Sergei’s stroke and later death Luca and Natalia continued to stay in touch planning climbs around the world .
Patrizia recalled that after the Khan Tengri ordeal the two spoke often They agreed every so often to meet up on some mountain somewhere in the world Their friendship was one built on mutual respect and shared passion for the mountains .
Legacy of Courage and Compassion
Luca’s final actions have etched his name into the annals of mountaineering courage His willingness to risk and ultimately give his life so that a fellow climber would not be left alone stands as a profound testament to human compassion .
Though Natalia’s fate remains uncertain Luca’s sacrifice has become a symbol of loyalty and bravery in the face of unimaginable odds The mountaineering community his family and admirers worldwide will remember him not just as a skilled climber but as a man who lived and died by the principle of never leaving anyone behind .