How was Kerala mountaineer Sheikh Hassan Khan 'rescued' from Mount Denali after a blizzard ordeal?

Thiruvananthapuram, June 19 (NationPress) Sheikh Hassan Khan, a 38-year-old employee of the Kerala government and an experienced mountaineer, was 'rescued' from a brutal blizzard at an altitude of 17,000 feet on Mount Denali in Alaska, which is the tallest peak in North America.

Khan, who has triumphantly conquered numerous significant summits worldwide, found himself stranded alongside a fellow climber during the expedition and was successfully rescued on Wednesday.

George Mathew, a close friend and former colleague of Khan, shared with IANS that the two faced a nerve-wracking delay as their food and water supplies ran low.

“We are relieved that both climbers have been rescued and are safe. There are no major health issues,” Mathew confirmed.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor of Alaska stated, “Mr. Khan, along with a climbing partner from Tamil Nadu, has been located and is currently making his way from Camp V back to the base camp.”

Dispatcher Code GN193 at Denali verified that Tucker Chenoweth, the South District Ranger at Denali National Park, successfully communicated with both climbers. They are now safe and accounted for.

The official statement indicated that the climbers managed to self-extricate and were descending independently while rangers maintained constant phone contact to provide ongoing guidance and support.

The emergency began on Tuesday when deteriorating weather conditions compelled Khan and his companion to stay put at their camp.

Recognizing the peril, they utilized a satellite phone to send out distress signals requesting immediate help.

The rescue operation gained traction thanks to the intervention of several notable figures, including Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, State BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Congress MP Anto Antony, and others.

The Indian Embassy worked in collaboration with US authorities to ensure the successful rescue.

Khan’s family expressed overwhelming relief, attributing his safe return to the prayers and support from well-wishers.

Notably, Khan had previously scaled Mount Denali in June 2023. This time, he aimed to unfurl a banner in honor of the Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor—a goal that remains unmet for now.

Having a record of summiting the highest peaks across every continent except Australia, Khan has been on a five-year sabbatical from his government position since 2023 to pursue his passion.

In reflecting on his journey, he often states, “While others take loans to build their dream homes, I take loans to fulfill my dream of climbing mountains.”