Footage Reveals Climbers' Dilemma During Record-Breaking K2 Ascent

Harrowing footage has emerged showing the moment Norwegian mountaineer Kristin Harila and her team discovered a dying porter at 27,000 feet during their record-breaking ascent of K2 in 2023. The climbers were faced with an agonizing decision: abandon their summit attempt to attempt a rescue, or continue towards the peak to set a new world record.

Harila, who became the fastest climber to scale the world's 14 highest mountains in 92 days, has detailed the events in a new documentary, "Savage Mountain." The footage reveals the discovery of Pakistani porter Muhammad Hassan, who was found hanging upside down, entangled by a rope, and improperly dressed for the extreme altitude.

"We saw there was something wrong with the rope around his legs. He was naked on his stomach and his back," Harila recalled of the moment they found Hassan in the dark. Her climbing partner, Tenjen 'Lama' Sherpa, described the perilous conditions, stating, "People were scared. I clipped around 10 people to get closer to the accident. I picked him up and held his hand. We were on a big slope with very slippery blue ice. It was a very dangerous place."

Despite attempts to secure Hassan with a new rope and provide him with warmth and oxygen, the team, including cameraman Gabriel, realized the porter was in critical condition. An avalanche shortly after the discovery further complicated the situation, forcing Harila and Lama to continue their ascent while Gabriel remained with Hassan.

Gabriel later stated that Hassan had little chance of survival, but continued to try and keep him comfortable. Ultimately, as daylight arrived, the team continued their climb, reaching the summit and celebrating their record-setting achievement. This moment was later overshadowed by a viral video that appeared to show the climbers stepping over the dying porter.

Harila described receiving over 20,000 abusive messages and death threats following the incident. She argued that the footage was filmed in daylight, and that her team had attempted rescue for hours in the dark. She believes the controversy stemmed from a narrative of "rich Western climbers stepping over a dying porter," which she felt the media sensationalized.

An inquiry into Hassan's death concluded that his expedition company had failed in its safety checks and balances, citing inadequate equipment and preparation. The company was subsequently required to suspend operations for two years.

In the aftermath, Harila lost many of her sponsors and expressed regret over the climb, stating, "I should have never done this. It was a very stupid idea." The situation took a further tragic turn when Lama Sherpa was killed in an avalanche on Shishapangma in October 2023, along with American climbers Anna Gutu and Gina Marie Rzucidlo. Harila has since established a foundation in Lama's memory and continues to pursue mountaineering, having recently completed the Everest 'triple crown' in May 2024.