Following Laura Dahlmeier's passing, Thomas Huber expresses his hope for the restoration of peace.
In the heart of the Pakistani Karakorum mountains, the mountaineering community and fans around the world are mourning the loss of Laura Dahlmeier, a double Olympic biathlon champion, who died at the age of 31 following a fatal rockfall at an altitude of 5,700 meters.
German mountaineer Thomas Huber, who was part of the rescue team, shared his grief on Instagram, expressing heartfelt condolences and honoring Dahlmeier's memory. Huber, who has lost many friends in the mountains, wrote that he cannot believe "that all this is true."
Huber and his team rationally weighed the next steps during the rescue attempt and search for Dahlmeier, prioritizing clear thinking over emotions. At a press conference, they tried to formulate their experiences clearly and leave the emotional storm inside them out.
Following the press conference, Huber took to Instagram again to express his feelings and share critical words. He emphasized the dangers of mountaineering and the importance of respecting the risks involved. Many comments on Instagram were disrespectful, he stated, with people having no idea what the team is going through.
Dahlmeier's family has requested that her last wish, to leave her body on the mountain if rescuing it would put others' lives at risk, be respected. No burial in her hometown may occur, and it's unclear if there will be a public memorial service in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Huber plans to spend time in the mountains to disconnect, grieve, and cry. He repeated on Saturday that he is glad to have time to process everything and will be offline until September. Huber believes his first tears will flow again in the mountains, where Dahlmeier also loved to be.
Marina Krauss, Dahlmeier's rope partner who survived the incident, will find it more difficult to return to everyday life. The mood among the mountaineering community and fans is one of sadness and respect for Dahlmeier's accomplishments in sport and mountaineering.
Pakistani authorities plan to assess retrieving Dahlmeier's body once weather conditions allow safe access to the accident site. Huber expressed a hope that everyone will now get the time to process Dahlmeier's death well, and that it would be in her spirit if there was finally some peace.
Laura Dahlmeier was an example of "living life with all one's heart - with everything one has." Her management confirmed her death on Wednesday, and the reaction to Huber's post, along with other mentions on Instagram, showed a grieving community of mountaineers and fans lamenting the loss of this remarkable woman.
- Thomas Huber, seeing the dangers and risks of mountaineering that claimed the life of Laura Dahlmeier, emphasized the importance of respecting these risks and understanding the emotional stress experienced by fellow mountaineers.
- Despite the tragic event in the mountains, German mountaineer Thomas Huber found solace and remembrance of Laura Dahlmeier in the very place where she loved to be – among the peaks and slopes.
