K2 hero McDonnell to receive climbing’s top bravery medal posthumously

A CO Limerick mountain climber who died in a brave rescue attempt on K2 has been given an award for bravery.

Ger McDonnell, 37, lost his life two years ago when he turned back to help a group of stricken Korean climbers on his descent from K2 after reaching the summit. Another climber said the three Koreans were dangling from their harnesses on the side of the mountain when McDonnell decided to turn back and try and rescue them.

His family plan to travel to Italy to accept the Targa d’Argento Pinzolo Gold Metal, which honours those who risk their life for others in the mountains. It is considered the top award by international climbers.

McDonnell was one of 11 climbers killed on the expedition in August 2008. The tragedy is recalled in a new book, No Way Down: Life and Death on K2, by New York Times journalist Graham Bowley.

It follows on an earlier book by the team leader, Dutchman Wilco Van Rooijen, who described his McDonnell as a hero who fought for the lives of three strangers.

McDonnell’s body was not recovered and a memorial Mass for him, at his old primary school in Kilcornan, was attended by hundreds of people.

His brother JJ McDonnell said yesterday all families faced with tragedy seek a certain closure.

“Two years on, there is still a false hope maybe he survived and went into some village.”

The discovery of a body, he said, would help bring some closure for his mother.

“But it’s actually up to mother nature to make that decision and there is nothing that can be done only to await the decision of the man above,” he said.

A Swedish film crew has made a documentary on the events which led up up to the tragedy and a number of other books are also being planned.

RTÉ plans to screen an Image Productions documentary which has been made with the cooperation of the McDonnell family.

Shortly before his death, McDonnell was pictured on the summit of K2 holding the tricolour aloft.