Body of Bulgarian climber Atanas Skatov found in the Himalayas

The body of the Bulgarian climber Atanas Skatov was found in the area of ​​the accident in the Himalayas, the Foreign Ministry announced officially.

"Pakistani authorities informed us through diplomatic channels through our embassy in Beijing. Atanas Skatov's body is currently being transported to the nearest city in northern Pakistan," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The information was confirmed on Twitter by the specialised company for altitude expeditions Alpine Adventure Guides.

Atanas body just recovered by Pak Army helicopter rescue mission. They're flying back to Skardu with Atanas fiancée which was with him at BC.

— Alpine Adventure Guides (@Alpine_Pakistan) February 5, 2021

The official page for K2 climbs and tours in Pakistan also confirmed the information about the fatal incident with the Bulgarian climber.

On February 5, 2021, around 11:20 local time, Atanas Skatov fell while descending from Camp 3 on K2 to the Base Camp due to a broken rope. A team of sherpas was searching for the missing climber. Two Pakistani army Ecurell helicopters were also involved in the rescue operation, and one of them found the body in the Paiju region of Pakistan, the ministry added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with the relatives of Atanas Skatov and provides assistance in the case.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria expresses its condolences to the family and relatives of the deceased climber! Condolences were also extended by the Pakistani government through the Pakistani ambassador to Beijing.

We pay homage to the strength of the spirit of our climber - his feat and his relentless will to reach the top will never be forgotten!

***

This was the 21st expedition for Atanas Skatov in the past 8 years. The big dream of the 42 year old climber was to climb all 14 eight-thousanders.

So far, Atanas Skatov has successfully climbed 10 of the 14 highest mountain peaks in the world.

In October 2019, Skatov summited Dhaulagiri (8,176 m), which the 7th highest mountain in the world.

This was the tenth eighth-thousander the Bulgarian climbed after his ascent of Kanchengjong (8,586 m) on May 15, Gasherbrum I (8,080 m) on July 12 and Gasherbrum II (8,035 m) on July 18th, 2019.

He had four more peaks to climb to achieve his goal - K2, Shisha Pangma, Broad Peak and Nanga Parbat.

Skatov has already climbed the Seven Summits – the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. He remained at the foot of one of his goals, the second highest peak in the world, adds BGNES.

This is the third tragic case with a Bulgarian climber in recent years. In May 2018, Boyan Petrov went missing while climbing Shisha Pangma and his body was not found by rescue teams, and a year later Ivan Tomov died in Lhotse.