Okanogan County Sheriff’s Workplace. Credit score: Fb
Three males have been killed after falling 400 toes whereas abseiling in Washington’s North Cascades on Sunday, Might 11, 2025.
The only real survivor, Anton Tselykh, 38, managed to hike by means of the mountains and drive over 60 miles to discover a payphone and name for assist, regardless of struggling severe inner accidents and head trauma.
Tragedy within the Early Winters Spires
The accident occurred within the Early Winters Spires, a well-liked climbing space within the North Cascade mountain vary, round 160 miles northeast of Seattle. Authorities say the group of 4 climbers had turned again on account of worsening climate and have been descending a steep gully when their piton rope system failed.
In response to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Workplace, the group fell about 200 toes by means of the air, then tumbled one other 200 toes over rock, snow and particles. The autumn was reportedly attributable to the failure of a piton, a small steel spike used as an anchor in mountain climbing, which seems to have been torn from the wall.
The three climbers who sadly died have been named as Vishnu Irigireddy, 48, Tim Nguyen, 63, and Oleksander Martynenko, 36.
All have been from the Seattle space, in accordance with the county coroner by way of CNN.
Anton Tselykh, the one survivor, managed to untangle himself from the wreckage and hiked by means of the rugged terrain at nighttime to succeed in his automobile. He then drove west masking about 60 miles throughout the Cascade mountain vary, earlier than discovering a payphone to name emergency providers.
“He didn’t realise he had as important of inner accidents as he did,” mentioned Undersheriff Dave Yarnell [via Climbing Magazine], including that Tselykh initially refused medical assist.
Authorities say Mazama, a city simply 15 miles east of the mountain, was a lot nearer, however Tselykh might not have identified the world nicely. “He took the lengthy route,” Yarnell mentioned. “He spent not less than an hour or extra driving over the Cascade mountain vary.”
Rescue crews used coordinates shared by a pal of the group to find the climbers. A 3-person group reached the location on Sunday and known as in a helicopter to get well the our bodies as a result of troublesome terrain.
Woodworth added that they hope to talk with Tselykh in additional element as soon as he recovers.
The route the climbers have been descending is taken into account average in problem however consists of snow, ice and rock – making it prone to quickly altering circumstances.
Climbing knowledgeable Joshua Cole, who has 20 years of expertise within the area, mentioned it’s uncommon to depend on a single piton for abseiling, particularly given the dangers concerned.
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