KATHMANDU: Renowned Nepali climber Mingma G, who led the daunting mission to recover bodies from Broad Peak, said that all five bodies of the climbers, including Nirmal Purja ‘Nimsdai’, were airlifted to Skardu from the base camp on Thursday morning.

Sharing details about the harrowing recovery mission, which successfully recovered the bodies of famed climbers from the avalanche site on Wednesday, IFMGA/UIAGM-certified climber Mingma G told The Tourism Times from the base camp that three bodies were stuck at 5,500m on a treacherous face of the world’s 12th highest mountain.

“We initially thought the elevation was just 5,000m or less, but when we headed towards the site, it appeared farther, at 5,500m,” said Mingma G, the first Nepali climber to scale all 14 peaks without using bottled oxygen.

The team of Nepali and Pakistani rescuers left the base camp at around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday and brought down four bodies to the base camp by 7:00 p.m., according to Mingma G.

“We struggled for 12 hours to bring the bodies of our fellow climbers from that height to the base camp,” he informed.

Four members - Mingma G, Dipan Gurung, Pemba Chhewang Sherpa, and Pakistani climber Sirbaz Khan - reached the avalanche site to collect the bodies. Pakistani climber Abid Baig and a few others supported the team from the base camp.

“Dipan and Pemba Chhewang were the main climbers who spent hours there at 5,500m to retrieve the bodies of the climbers, including Nimsdai, Nima Sherpa, and Chinese climber Wang Zhong,” Mingma G acknowledged.

“The area from which the bodies were recovered was prone to avalanches, and the route was steep. It was a team effort, and all recovery team members successfully accomplished the mission by putting their own lives at risk,” Mingma G added.

Five bodies - those of Nimsdai, Kili Pemba Sherpa ‘Kilu’, Nima Sherpa, Gyalu Sherpa, and Wang Zhong - were sent to Skardu in a helicopter on Thursday morning, Mingma G said. Earlier, Mingma G's team had spotted four bodies at 5,700m, and three bodies - except for Kilu's - were stuck at 5,500m while being brought down to the flatter area on the Concordia side of the mountain. Bodies of Kilu and Gyalu had already been brought down to the base camp.

“I feel immense pride in leading a recovery team that successfully retrieved the bodies of fellow climbers,” Mingma G further said. he also thanked the government of Pakistan, Pakistan Military, Alpine Club and all others involved in coordinating and facilitating the mission.

Earlier, the bodies of Omani climber Nadhira Al Harthy and Pur Bahadur Gurung (Yukta), along with a human leg belonging to American climber Mallory Geis, were airlifted to Skardu on Friday. Another victim, Nawang Thindhu Sherpa, could not be retrieved, as his body is reportedly situated in a precarious position above 6,000 meters. Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi, who perished in the July 30 avalanche, is still missing.