Diabetes at Altitude - Broad Peak 2004

The altitude of Broad Peak may be intimidating but it will not deter Nikki Wallis. The following story is an indication of the determination and courage that Nikki has when the going gets tough.

Blizzard Heroes - Mar 15 2004

A brave park warden told how she saved two novice climbers from death after one fell more than 100ft down a North Wales mountain in a blizzard. Nikki Wallis carved out an ice-hole and used a tiny tent as a shelter while they waited hours for rescuers to reach them. She gave the pair Welsh lessons to keep them awake and alive as they endured sub-zero night-time conditions, huddled alongside her dog Jakob for warmth.

An RAF helicopter hunting for them was forced back by 50mph winds.
"They were very, very lucky," said Nikki last night. "It was one of the most demanding rescues I have done. "I was looking after two casualties by myself for a considerable amount of time."

Rescuer Chris Lloyd, of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue team, said: "Conditions were lethal and it could easily have been a double fatality if Nikki and her dog had not been nearby." Nikki added: "We had to stay put. The most important thing is not to go to sleep. "You keep talking. It was tough but I gave them very intensive Welsh lessons. We played I-Spy and word games.

"My dog helped us to keep warm under the tent and I had a whistle."
The 33-year-old Snowdonia National Park warden was on patrol with her cross labrador/husky search dog Jakob at 4pm on Saturday when she heard desperate cries for help from Deepak Kumar, 28. His friend, Vikram Phukan, also 28, was lying just feet away from the edge of a precipice with a shattered kneecap. At one point Deepak thought his friend had died. In blizzard conditions, Nikki, who was wearing crampons and equipped with an ice axe, searched for the climbers from London, who were very poorly equipped - Deepak was wearing trainers!. She said: "I had to zig-zag carefully for about 45 minutes up the ice before I got to them."
By that time the weather was worsening and at one point Jakob was covered by snow. Visibility was almost down to zero.

Nikki, who is also a volunteer with Llanberis Mountain Rescue team, used all her skills to keep them alive by building steps in the ice where they could sit, covered by the tiny tent. She feared the men could develop hypothermia or even tumble over the edge. She had alerted rescuers via her radio but had to keep everybody's spirits up after an RAF rescue helicopter had to turn back because of the blizzard conditions. And she had a word of warning to other would-be inexperienced climbers. "We can't take any chances on the mountains."

A FIRST-TIME climber last night described how he thought his friend had fallen to his death on a North Wales mountain. Deepak Kumar's trip to Snowdon almost ended in tragedy when his friend slipped 100ft down the mountainside in a blizzard.
The pair only survived thanks to park warden Nikki Wallis, who heard their cries for help. The trio huddled alongside her dog Jakob inside an ice cave, while 55 rescuers searched for them.

Deepak, 28, from London, initally thought Vikram Phukan, also 28, was dead. He said: "I looked around and saw Vikram had lost his balance and fallen. I saw him slipping behind and disappear. "I called 'Are you all right?' "I didn't think he was alive. Then he shouted back so I felt he was hanging on to something very close, about five metres from the end of the precipice."

Deepak was very concerned for his injured friend and thought he would freeze. He said: "I tried to touch his leg. He was hurt and I couldn't get to him." Deepak, who is originally from India, tried to phone for help. He said: "We didn't know the police number. "We then tried different numbers. We didn't know it was 999."

Software consultant Deepak said: "We feel we are really lucky that Nikki found us. "We were desperate. We have been through hell. I said some prayers. "Vikram had been climbing before. For me, it was the first time. "He did tell me to bring boots but I didn't have any so I wore trainers. "It was extremely windy. The weather started becoming bad. "We felt we had done the difficult part but after that there was an other mountain."

After they climbed the treacherous Crib Goch and Crib y Ddysgl, they lost their rucksack, which only contained some biscuits. They had failed to take torches, maps, or any first aid equip-ment regarded as essential. After the fall, at about 1.30pm, the pair shouted for help, and were answered by Nikki. A very relieved Deepak, who had slid to join his friend, said: "Suddenly I saw the dog."

Nikki radioed to her National Park colleagues and rescue teams. But because of the blizzard weather conditions, an RAF rescue helicopter and crew had to turn back. They dropped off 10 members of Llanberis mountain rescue team near Llyn Llydaw, but they could not reach Nikki and the two casualties. Llanberis team leader Aled Taylor called for help from neighbouring Ogwen Valley and Aberglaslyn teams. At one time, there were 55 rescuers out on the mountain.

The injured climber was strapped to a stretcher and lowered 600ft. Deepak, although starting to suffer from hypothermia, was able to walk. Deepak said: "I would say we were foolish in not equipping ourselves properly and just going for the adventure."

Mar 15 2004
By Hywel Trewyn Daily Post

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