The bodies of British climber Tom Ballard and the Italian Daniele Nardi have been found on Nanga Parbat, it’s being reported Saturday afternoon. According to the Italian ambassador to Pakistan, Stefano Portecorvo, Spanish climber Alex Txikon found the two climbers on the Mummery Spur.
On Daniele Nardi’s Facebook page, the following message (translated from Italian) was posted: “We are devastated by pain; we inform you that Daniele and Tom’s researches are completed. Part of them will remain forever at Nanga Parbat. Pain is strong; in front of objective facts and, after doing everything possible for research, we must accept the happened. We thank Alex, Ali, Rahmat and the whole rescue team, the Pakistani and Italian authorities, journalists, sponsors, all friends who have shown so much collaboration and generosity.”
Ballard and Nardi had not been in contact since 24th February, and subsequent searches for the pair took place despite bad weather and flying restrictions imposed in the area due to tensions between India and Pakistan. Climbers including the Spaniard Alex Txikon and Pakistani Ali Sadpura had flown to the area to help the search effort that included drones, helicopters and mountaineers on foot. Although the search was called off on 6th March, the following day Alex Txikon spotted what was described as ‘silouettes’ on the mountain and today, Saturday 9th, those silouettes were confirmed as the bodies of Ballard and Nardi.
Ballard was one of Britain’s leading young climbers and alpinists, who came to prominence when he became the first person to solo the six classic north faces in the Alps in one winter season. He was also, of course, the son of the late Alison Hargreaves who died on K2 in 1995, aged 33.
More to follow…