A Malaysian climber has died on Mount Denali in Alaska, USA, while two others have been hospitalized with injuries.
The Alpine Club Malaysia announced on Facebook that Zulkifli Yusuf, 37, died at 6 a.m. local time on May 29 while sheltering in a snow cave known as the “Football Field.”
“The cause of death is suspected to be high-altitude cerebral oedema and hypothermia and will be confirmed through a post-mortem.
“The body is still at the scene and the process of recovery may take some time, depending on weather conditions,” said the club.
Another climber, Zainudin Lot, 47, was rescued on May 31 and is receiving treatment at a hospital in Talkeetna, Alaska.
“His condition is stable and he has frostbite on both hands,” it added.
On May 31, Denali National Park & Preserve confirmed that its team rescued the first of the three stranded climbers, Muhammad Illaham Ishak, 47, on May 28.
The park’s high-altitude helicopter pilot had attempted to deliver a survival gear bag near the snow cave but was initially prevented from rescuing the climbers due to strong winds.
Mount Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, is known for its challenging terrain and high altitude.
The rescue operation was a culmination of a days-long effort by air and ground searchers to reach the stranded Malaysian climbers who had summited Denali early Tuesday.