One climber rescued, 3 dead after Mount McKinley accident

Three climbers are dead after falling Wednesday while attempting to summit Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, in southern Alaska, according to the Latvian Mountaineering Association. The accident occurred about 2,000 feet from the mountain’s summit in the Denali Pass area. The association identified the deceased as experienced climbers Inese Pučeka, Vija Olte, and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks.

It was unclear if they died from the fall or from subsequent severe weather conditions. The National Park Service had not provided information on their deaths as of Monday afternoon.

Rescuers were able to safely extract a fourth climber who fell, Mārtiņš Bilzēns. He was evacuated using a long line and helicopter and was in critical condition, according to the climbing association and the National Park Service. Three other members of the group who did not fall were also evacuated. Two of them were suffering from frostbite, but doctors hoped they would regain mobility in their hands, according to the climbing association.

Dig deeper: Read Elise Hunnemeyer’s report on search efforts after the initial incident.