Simone Moro pilots his helicopter during the rescue high on Everest. Photo: David Hamilton/Jagged Globe
One of the men involved in the recent ugly confrontation on Everest between three European mountaineers and Sherpas has carried out a daring helicopter rescue of a stricken climber.
Italian climber Simone Moro flew his aircraft to a record-breaking 7,800m to airlift the Nepali-Canadian casualty from Everest’s South Col yesterday.
It was the highest ever rescue by helicopter.
The rotary-wing aircraft struggle to gain uplift in the thin air at such altitudes, but Moro piloted his machine higher than any previous flight so the injured climber could be brought to safety.
The rescue was witnessed by David Hamilton, an expedition leader from Sheffield-based Jagged Globe.
He said: “An injured Nepali-Canadian climber was lifted on a long-line from 7,800m on Everest at 1.30pm Nepali time on 21 May.
“The climber got into difficulties in the afternoon of 20 May high on Everest.
“A Sherpa team led by Pasang Tenzing, who was working for Jagged Globe, rescued the injured climber from above 8,500m in the evening reaching the South Col Camp at 7,950m at 8pm.
“On 21 May they lowered him over several hundred metres of difficult ground to reach a spot from where the record-breaking helicopter pick-up was possible.
Simone Moro. Photo: Gabriele Marabini ![[CC-2.0]](/lib/img/layout/cc-attr.gif)
“The pilot was Simone Moro.”
Mr Moro was with British climber and photographer Jon Griffith and Swiss speed-climbing expert Ueli Steck last month when they were confronted by a group of angry Sherpas who took exception to their Alpine-style climbing in an area where the Sherpas were fixing ropes.
The European climbers said their lives were threatened and they had to make a dangerous escape from Everest Camp Two back down to Base Camp.
Griffith and Steck flew out of the area after their expedition was abandoned, but Moro remained in the Everest area.
Margaret
22 May 2013"Italian climber Simone Moro flew his aircraft"
I wonder how long it will be before climbers on the Ben will be asking for a helipad and parking at the CIC hut.
Christopher
23 May 2013just a few weeks ago, Moro/Steck/Griffiths fell victims to one of the most disgusting events in mountaineering history. Nonetheless Moro keeps on doing his brave rescue maneuvers on everest - big respect!
Ian
23 May 2013The Everest commercial circus certainly has its followers.
Kate Smith
23 May 2013Brilliant daring rescue.You certainly have my respect Cheers Kate
LUCABERTUZZI
23 May 2013BRAVO SIMONE!!!!
Massimo
24 May 2013Non era Simone Moro ai comandi, ma Maurizio Folini...
Hannes Ulmer
24 May 2013There will be days where rescues @ this altitudes cannot be performed, on good days may be higher altitudes are possible. I just hope for that the public climbers don't start to think this will becomming standard rescue. Its very dangerous, and the hero today can end to zero tomorrow. Watch out your back Simone and keep aware, i know what I'm talking about.
don
28 May 2013Fantastic flying- good show Simone!
Capt Steven Bruce Bokan
29 May 2013This rescue was conducted by Captain Mauruzio Folini not Simoné Moro (Simoné does NOT fly in Nepal in a commercial capicity) please print the truth thank You Capt Steven Bruce Bokan - Fishtail Air Nepal
Jesus
20 June 2013A guy with 1000h, the most on double controls, flew up to this altitude for a resceue (With a landing) ???
What a genius!!
you will get into heaven...by Helicopter!!
Never....
Maddog
13 October 2013How can this person, Simone take the credit for a very skillful rescue?
Has he no shame?
Let the pilot that flew the aircraft take the credit...
Luca
17 October 2013http://www.planetmountain.com/english/News/shownews1.lasso?l=1&keyid=40947
Dear Steven, Jesus and Maddog, Simone NEVER said he was the pilot!!
Before criticizing read carefully what he said to journalists...
True information
14 April 2014The pilot was Maurizio Folini... not Simone Moro
Maddog
23 June 2014Hey Luca,
My comment relates to this article.
Read it again (carefully) bfore commenting further,
Thanks,
Truthteller
26 June 2014@Maddog,
You really should have worded your earlier comment better.
"How can this person, Simone take the credit for a very skillful rescue?
Has he no shame?
Let the pilot that flew the aircraft take the credit..."
The answer is that he didn't take credit for piloting the helicopter. In the Planet Mountain interview he said that Folini was the pilot, and he was one of the crew members.
You can criticize this article for getting the information wrong. However, you were also wrong for criticizing Moro for a mistake that someone else made in an article...
Maddog
06 October 2015Yes truthteller...how thoughtless of anyone to comment on a published news article. Was Moro even on board at the time ('one of the crew members')?
I very much doubt anyone was aboard but the pilot and a few litres of fuel.