( 11:15am Nepal time) “Denis and I met Ueli descending the ropes on the face of the Wall. Ueli is fine. We had a couple of close calls with avalanches. Everything was OK because we were on the ropes. The weather is still poor with low light and low visibility. We're tired. I'm relieved to be at the bottom of the wall. We're heading down to C2. Serguey, Dr. Robert and a number of Sherpas are waiting for us. We'll reach them in about 15 minutes once we’ve crossed the glacier.”

(7:40 am Nepal Time) My batteries are running lo, so I’ll keep this short: “The weather is terrible. Visibility is poor and there are many avalanches. Ueli left Camp 4 this morning - he is somewhere between Camp 4 and Camp 3. Denis and I are heading up to meet him. We hope to be down in Camp 2 by this evening.”

Priorities turn to those who are on the mountain. Weather conditions are described as rather rough. Snow is falling on the upper sections. In addition to excessive snow, the south face of Annapurna is wrapped in a thick fog, and visibility is poor.

 

Don and Denis have retreated to C3, where they will await Ueli's descent in the morning.

 

Russian Serguey Bogomolov and Polish Doctor Robert Szymczak are wating for them in C2. The third rescue team together with a group of Sherpas, shall be on their way back down or already in BC.

In spite of loads of snow and fighting exhaustion above C3. Don and his fellow rescuers were pressing on to Inaki and Ueli when the sad news reached them.

Emotionally distraught Don called his Support Team: "...He died! He died!... I can't believe it! He died!..." Then Don burst into tears and wept! Moments later as he tried to compose himself he exclaimed: "I've gotta go now. We have to get to Ueli. He needs our help!"

(MountEverest.net/Madrid) In spite off all efforts, Iñaki couldn't make it. Further pulmonary complications had worsened up his state, until he passed away at 12.30 pm, local time. Ueli Steck, the Swiss high altitude mountaineer, was with the sick Spaniard, trying to reanimate him until the end.

Don's heartfelt thoughts and prayers and sympathy goes out to Iñaki's family as well as to his home team, Horia Colibasanu (Iñaki's climbing mate) and all those who have supported and closely followed the extraordinary 8000 m career of Iñaki - a climbing ace!