Mountaineer perishes in Pakistan, mere weeks following Dahlmeier's demise - Mountaineer perishes anew in Pakistan, mirroring Dahlmeier's demise mere weeks prior
In the heart of the Karakorum mountain range in Pakistan, two tragic climbing accidents occurred recently, claiming the lives of two experienced mountaineers - Guan Jing and Laura Dahlmeier.
Guan Jing, a Chinese climber in her early 40s, lost her life on August 12–13, 2025, while descending from the summit of K2, the world’s second-highest peak at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet). Guan Jing had successfully reached the summit with a group of climbers beforehand, but the fatal incident occurred on the Abruzzi Spur route between Camp I and Advanced Base Camp, a section known for frequent rockfalls. Rescue teams were delayed in recovering her body due to bad weather conditions, but a recovery operation was launched with aid from local army aviation and mountaineers. Guan Jing’s death marked one of four fatalities in the 2025 Karakoram climbing season.
Laura Dahlmeier, a German Olympic gold medalist in biathlon who had taken up mountaineering, died in an accident on Laila Peak in the same Karakoram region on July 30, 2025. Like Guan Jing, she was also struck by falling rocks during her climbing attempt. This incident was part of a series of fatal accidents in the region during the summer climbing season, which included another Pakistani climber killed by an avalanche on K2 earlier in July.
| Climber | Date | Peak | Circumstance | Cause of Death | |-----------------|--------------|------------|---------------------------------|------------------------| | Guan Jing | Aug 12–13, 2025 | K2 | Descending after summiting | Struck by falling rocks | | Laura Dahlmeier | July 30, 2025 | Laila Peak | Attempting to summit | Struck by falling rocks |
The Karakoram range, known for its steep terrain and frequent rockfalls, poses extreme risks to climbers. Despite these dangers, the region attracts daring alpinists every year. The exact season of Laura Dahlmeier's accident is not specified, but it occurred before Guan Jing's accident in August.
The Alpine Association has not yet reported on Laura Dahlmeier's specific incident, but they did report on the death of Guan Jing. Laura Dahlmeier's management requested that her body remain on the mountain to avoid putting helpers' lives at risk during recovery.
This year, four climbers have lost their lives in the mountains of northern Pakistan, making it a dangerous season for mountaineers. The region's high risks from avalanches and storms, even in summer, have once again been highlighted by these tragic accidents.
The General News has reported the tragic deaths of experienced mountaineers Guan Jing and Laura Dahlmeier, both of whom perished in climbing accidents in the Karakoram mountain range, a region known for its steep terrain and frequent rockfalls. To protect the EU's financial interests, The Commission has also taken steps to address the dangers faced by climbers, acknowledging the high risks from avalanches and storms, even during the summer climbing season.
