A mountaineer has fallen to her death on the world’s ninth highest peak – but authorities won’t declare her dead.
Klara Kolouchova was the first Czech woman to climb the world’s three highest peaks – Mount Everest, K2, and Kanchenjunga.
The 46-year-old was climbing Nanga Parbat in the Himalayas, in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, when she reportedly plunged to her death.
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A local mountain guide said he saw her fall and knew it was unsurvivable on 3 July.
But due to the dangerous area in which her body now rests, the Pakistani military is unable to retrieve it.
And as she is still classed as a ‘missing person’, the Czech authorities can’t formally confirm her death, as reported by Need To Know.
Now her devastated husband and two young children may have to wait up to five years to access her assets, including her pension.
Klara was also on the board of directors for a company that may now run into trouble.
It is possible that she may be declared dead sooner based on the mountain guide’s testimony and the fact that the military has already located her body.
Klara’s family is fighting for official confirmation.
It is unclear whether the victim had prepared a will ahead of her doomed trip to Nanga Parbat, which is the world’s ninth highest mountain with an altitude of 26,660 feet (8,126m) above sea level.
The peak is known as ‘Killer Mountain’ due to the high number of fatalities that have occurred during climbs.
It is known for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather.
Klara left a foreboding last message on her Instagram account on 14 June.
She wrote: “Last year, the Naked Mountain laid me bare.
“Stripped me to silence, to stillness, to soul.
“This time, we aim higher.
“This time, we submit.”
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