Mountain Climbing Accidents: Deaths On Nanga Parbat By Notable Famous Deaths [53 more lists]

Meaning "naked mountain" in Hindi or "killer mountain" casually, Nanga Parbat is the ninth tallest mountain in the world with a peak of 8,126 meters or 26,660 feet. The peak has attracted many throughout the years who've attempted to ascent the eight-thousander, but sadly mountain climbing accidents led to many deaths on Nanga Parbat.

Perhaps the most notable loss of life came in 1934 when a total of nine members of one expedition passed during their climb. Similar to the first climb, which claimed three lives in 1895, the ascent was unsuccessful, but did not deter others from reaching the peak.

The Germans were among those who returned to the mountain, located in the Himalayas in Pakistan. It was not until 1953 that Austrian climber Hermann Buhl successfully reached the summit for the first time. Others followed in the decades since, including many who lost their lives trying.

But for as long as there are mountains, there will be unfortunate mountain climbing accidents. Others have tried, and failed, on nearby mountains, such as those who died climbing Dhaulagiri and those who lost their lives climbing Mt. Everest.

Print Info View 1 Views: 2623 Items: 16

< >

Show: 5 25

Rank Name

1

Albert F. Mummery

Author Albert F. Mummery died on Nanga Parbat on August 24, 1895, while attempting to become the first climbers to reach the peak. He was also one of the first to die in the pursuit.
2

Alfred Drexel

Climbing as part of a German expedition led by Willy Merkl, Alfred Drexel died on Nanga Parbat around July 16, 1934. The climb was reportedly financed by the Nazi government and pushed Drexel to suffer from a high altitude pulmonary edema.
3

Elbridge Herron

Using the same leader, Willy Merkl, that led the fatal expedition for Alfred Drexel, Elbridge Herron was killed attempting to scale Nanga Parbat. Herron was one of several Americans to join the Germans on the journey, which took his life in 1932.
4

Goman Singh

Along with Ragobir Singh, Goman Singh was one of two Gurkhas who joined notable climber Albert F. Mummery on the first attempted ascent of Nanga Parbat. All three lost their lives to an avalanche during the climb.
5

Günther Messner

Italian mountaineer Günther Messner lost his life on June 29, 1970, while attempting to climb Nanga Parbat with his brother, Reinhold Messner. Günther Messner reportedly died in an avalanche after suffering exhaustion and altitude sickness. His death was later the subject of controversy in both 2000 and 2005 after bones were found on the mountain.
6

José Antonio Delgado

Though one of the most experienced climbers in Latin America, José Antonio Delgado unsuccessfully attempted to climb Nanga Parbat in what would have been his sixth eight-thousander. Delgado attempted the quest alone, lost contact with the base camp and was found dead on July 22, 2006.
7

Karl Unterkircher

Karl Unterkircher died on July 15, 2008, at the age of 37 after falling into a crevasse on Nanga Parbat. He was attempting to open a new route to the summit when he fell and was presumed dead.
8

Mi-Sun Go

After reaching the summit of Nanga Parbat, Korean climber Mi-Sun Go lost her life when she fell off a cliff. She reportedly hit poor weather in her descent, fell 3,000 feet and was found dead on July 11, 2009.
9

Piotr Kalmus

On July 13, 1985, Peter Kalmus died in an avalanche during an expedition with four other climbers. The team attempted to clear a new road on the south-east pillar of the Rupal flank of Nanga Parbat when they encountered the avalanche.
10

Ragobir Singh

Finishing out the trio of the ill-fated August 24, 1895, expedition, Gurkha Ragobir Singh passed away with Goman Singh and Albert F. Mummery. The group attempted the first ascent of Nanga Parbat, but were unsuccessful.
11

Saman Nemati

Iranian climber Saman Nemati was lost in 2008 after unsuccessfully attempting to scale Nanga Parbat. According to reports, Nemati requested rescue on July 23, 2008, but he was never found.
12

Siegi Löw

After escaping death when he was presumed dead in a Dresden bombing as a child, Siegi Löw met his maker on Nanga Parbat on June 23, 1962. Löw successfully became the second to reach the summit, but died during the descent.
13

Ulrich Wieland

Ulrich Wieland was part of one of the first few attempted climbs of Nanga Parbat when he met with poor weather and died on July 9, 1934. A total of nine died during the quest including Alfred Drexel.
14

Willo Welzenbach

Following the death of Ulrich Wieland only five days earlier, Willo Welzenbach passed away on July 14, 1934, during the ill-fated expedition that took nine lives. Six sherpas and Alfred Drexel were others who passed during one of the first attempted ascents of Nanga Parbat.
15

Willy Merkl

Willy Merkl was the final expedition member to lose his life, passing away on July 16, 1934, after the trek claimed the lives of eight others in his crew. Merkl was part of the group who attempted one of the first climbs of Nanga Parbat, a good 20 years before the first successful climb.
16

Wolfgang Kölblinger

10 July 2009

Showing items 1 - 5 of 16

Alfred Drexel

Elbridge Herron

Goman Singh

Günther Messner

Mi-Sun Go

Piotr Kalmus

Ragobir Singh

Saman Nemati

Siegi Löw

Ulrich Wieland

Willo Welzenbach

Willy Merkl

Wolfgang Kölblinger