'My mother is alive': son of Russian climber Nagovitsina pleads to resume rescue mission
Tengrinews.kz – The son of Russian mountaineer Natalia Nagovitsina has appealed to authorities, insisting that his mother, who went missing on Peak Pobeda in Kyrgyzstan, is still alive. He called for the continuation of rescue operations.
In a post on VKontakte, which has since been cited by multiple Russian media outlets, he wrote:
“I am the son of Russian climber Natalia Igorevna Nagovitsina, who, according to many media reports, was injured on August 12 during a descent from Peak Pobeda and was left behind by her team at an altitude of over 7,000 meters. My mother is an experienced climber, with a second-class sports rank in mountaineering, strong health and excellent physical shape. In a video I received, it is clearly visible that seven days after losing contact, she is actively waving her hand and full of strength. I am convinced my mother is still alive.”
He added that favorable weather conditions are expected to last only two more days and asked for aerial drone footage to confirm her status.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Investigative Committee issued a statement on its official Telegram channel, saying Chairman Alexander Bastrykin has ordered the central office to urgently contact the Ministry of Emergency Situations and ensure cooperation 'to clarify all circumstances' and provide assistance in the possible rescue of the climber.
What happened
According to earlier reports, the 47-year-old climber broke her leg on August 12 while descending from Peak Pobeda (7,439 meters). Her teammate went for help, but a rescue helicopter carrying Russian climbers and rescuers failed to land near the tent due to turbulence, forcing an emergency landing.
On August 19, a drone captured Nagovitsina alive for the last time. However, by August 23, rescue efforts were halted due to worsening weather, heavy snowfalls, and avalanche risks, which made further attempts impossible.
In Kazakhstan, Almaty rescuers have once again urged hikers and young travelers to take mountain expeditions more seriously, warning that social media often paints an unrealistic picture.
“The most important thing is to match your abilities with your ambitions. Tragedies in the mountains happen because of insufficient preparation for the chosen route,” said Damir Yermagambetov, acting head of the city’s emergency department.