Rescued Mountaineer Returns to Slovenia

Ljubljana, 17 August

One of Slovenia's best mountaineers has returned home a week after being rescued from the clutches of one of the world's most dangerous mountains.

Several hundred people gathered at Brnik international airport near Ljubljana on Wednesday to greet Tomaz Humar, who repeatedly thanked all his supporters for their words of encouragement.
"Thank you for getting me back home....I hope I will be able to repay you someday," he said.
"The encouragement you gave me was enough to keep me going throughout the week," Humar said in reference to his six-day ordeal in a small ice hole on the Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest mountain.
The ordeal ended exactly a week ago, when Pakistani army helicopters airlifted Humar to safety in a daring rescue that involved him holding on to a sling until he was brought to base camp.
Despite failing to scale the mountain, Humar said he was convinced the project served a purpose. "Everything that happens, happens for a reason," he said.
Although he has not fully recovered from the frostnip he suffered, Humar said he was simply glad to be back in Slovenia.
Moreover, he said he was not thinking of returning to the mountains just yet, saying he would first like to take his children for a holiday on the coast.
The 36-year-old's ascent of the as yet unconquered Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat started on 1 August but came to a standstill on 3 August due to heavy snow.
The climber found shelter from the elements on a small ledge at an altitude of around 6,000 metres, but soon found out he could not descend or ascend from that point.
Initial efforts to get him off the mountain were hampered by the bad weather. By the time he was rescued, he had nearly run out of all supplies.

Rescued Mountaineer Returns to Slovenia

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