• Gerard McDonnell was the first Irish individual to have ever reached the summit of K2. McDonnell and ten other climbers are believed to have died while descending the mountain, after an ice avalanche struck on July 31, 2008.Times Online: Climbers Lost on Savage Summit (August 3, 2008)

• 1. Nation of origin: IrelandTimes Online: Climbers Lost on Savage Summit (August 3, 2008)
  2. Residence: Anchorage, Alaska
  3. First Irishman ever to climb K2Times Online: Climbers Lost on Savage Summit (August 3, 2008)
  4. Birthplace: Limerick, Ireland

• Previous Attempt

  McDonnell attempted to climb K2 in 2006, but was injured in a rock fall and had to be airlifted to a hospital. Four climbers who continued on after McDonnell's injury were killed soon after, in an avalanche near the summit.Times Online: Climbers Lost on Savage Summit (August 3, 2008)

• Climbing Accidents Fast Facts

  1. K2 is second highest mountain on Earth
  2. K2's fatality rate for climbers: 26.77%MountEverest.net: Everest vs. BigMac - Killer Statistics
  3. Odds of death on K2 are higher if a climber reaches the peak, as the descent itself is extremely dangerousK2Climb.net: Surviving
  4. Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, has a fatality rate of 9.3%MountEverest.net: Everest vs. BigMac - Killer Statistics
  5. Annapurna has the highest fatality rate for climbers, at 41%MountEverest.net: Everest vs. BigMac - Killer Statistics
  6. The United Kingdom's Health and Safety office reports the odds of dying while rock climbing are 1 in 320,000Health and Safety Executive: Risk Education Statistics

Categories