After the tragedy on Denali mountain in Alaska, where three Latvian climbers died, one of the expedition members spoke for the first time about what happened. According to him, the team tried until the last moment to save their fallen comrades, but only one person managed to survive.
Denali expedition member Valdis Purinsh published an emotional message following the tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of three experienced Latvian climbers. Purinsh was part of a group of four who remained on the mountain after the accident. They were later evacuated by rescuers.
In his message, he noted that mountains have always combined beauty and danger for him, but this time the worst happened. According to the climber, Viya Olte, Inese Puceka, and Renars Kunigs-Salaks died after falling approximately 300 meters down a steep snow and ice slope.
“We did everything we could to save our friends,” Purinsh wrote.
He shared that before the helicopter evacuation, only Martiņš Bilzens managed to survive. The injured individual is currently in a hospital in Anchorage. According to the latest information, his condition has stabilized, and doctors no longer see a threat to his life.
Purinsh acknowledges that what they experienced was a heavy trial for the entire team.
“For us, the survivors, it is very hard,” he wrote.
The expedition members are in contact with the families of the deceased and are organizing the return to Latvia for both the surviving group members and the bodies of the deceased climbers.
In his address, Purinsh also thanked the staff of Denali National Park, representatives of the Latvian consular service, and everyone who is helping the families and participants of the expedition. He emphasized that details of the tragedy will be shared later when the team has the strength to talk about what happened.
“Right now, we kindly ask to leave alone all those who are grieving and mourning,” the climber noted.
Meanwhile, the other expedition members have already been delivered to Talkeetna, from where further actions are being coordinated.
The deaths of Inese Puceka, Viya Olte, and Renars Kunigs-Salaks have become one of the most severe tragedies in the history of Latvian mountaineering in recent years.
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