Chinese climber Guan Jing dies on K2 after rockfall during descent

A Chinese climber, Guan Jing, died on K2 after being struck by falling rocks during her descent from the summit, a day after reaching the world’s second-highest peak. Rescue teams, hampered by bad weather, stepped up efforts to reach her body, which remains on the mountain as helicopter flights are currently not feasible. The day before, a large group of climbers successfully summited, marking a notable, if hazardous, ascent amid a season characterized by extreme conditions.

Guan Jing was descending the Abruzzi Spur route, between Camp I and the Advanced Base Camp, when the rockfall occurred. Authorities described the incident as taking place at an elevation where rock debris is a common danger in this section of K2. A Nepali expedition team member, known as Jangbu, was dispatched to assist with the recovery but was himself injured en route and subsequently evacuated by air for treatment. The weather at the time prevented helicopter operations, delaying the recovery effort. Local officials indicated Guan’s body lay roughly 100 to 150 meters above the Advanced Base Camp, at about 17,700 feet (around 5,400 meters) above sea level, complicating access for the rescue party.