Famous Pakistani mountaineer Ali Raza Sadpara, 56, surrendered to his injuries and embraced death in Skardu early Friday morning.
The mountaineer had suffered critical injuries on May 17 when he fell off a cliff into a ditch. He was rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital in Skardu for medical examination where doctors found his backbone was fractured and ribs were broken.
His funeral prayers will be conducted in the Olding village of the city.
Sadpara began his career in 1986 and has climbed Pakistan’s 8,000-metre peaks 17 times. Broad Peak (8,047meter), Gasherbrum-I (8,068meter) Gasherbrum-II (8,035meter), and Nanga Parbat (8,125meter) were also among his conquests.
Read more: Statue of Ali Sadpara placed in Gilgit and roundabout is named Sadpara Chowk
Besides, he also scaled Baltoro Kangri, Sia Kangri, and Spantik. Ali Raza Sadpara was the coach of the renowned mountaineer, Ali Sadpara, who died on K2, Hassan Sadpara, and other climbers.
As his demise news spread, fellow mountaineers, politicians, reporters, and civil society members expressed sympathies with the bereaved family and called Ali Raza’s death a “huge loss” for mountaineering.
Feelings of grief came from PPP’s media cell, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed his condolences to Sadpara’s family and prayed for the deceased soul.
Meanwhile, Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman lamented and said Sadpara’s death was “surely a great loss for Pakistan”.
Mountaineer Sirbaz Khan said Ali Raza Sadpara had given his whole life in the service of Pakistan. He stated Ali Raza had raised the Pakistani flag on 8,000meter peaks more times than any other climber.
Saad Munawar, mountaineer and tour operator, also expressed grief at the news. “Heartbroken at the demise of Ali Raza. Death is indeed the biggest reality of life,” he mourned. “Pakistan will miss a legend. Pakistani mountaineers will miss their mentor and the mountains will miss their best friend.”
American mountaineer and skier, Luke Smithwick, shared a picture of Ali Raza Sadpara on his Twitter and said, “He was with another team yet we all worked together on 8000-meter mountains, that’s how summits happen.”
Moreover, young climber Abdul Joshi said, “You will always be remembered as Apo Ali Raza,” adding that Sadpara was not only the best mountaineer but also the “best human”.
