Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigaglia has died at 7,000 meters on Kyrgyzstan’s Pik Pobeda (7,439m) in a valiant effort to save his injured climbing partner. The 49-year-old from Milan, an experienced high-altitude climber, perished on Ferragosto (August 15th), reportedly from cerebral edema exacerbated by severe frostbite.
His Russian climbing partner, Natalia Nagovitsyna (47), is believed to be alive but stranded at 7,150 meters for nearly ten days. She is reported to have a broken leg, limited supplies, and no radio. Rescue operations are ongoing, according to Anna Piunova, editor of mountain.ru, who is closely monitoring the situation.
The news of Sinigaglia’s death was confirmed by Kyrgyz media and the Russian Telegram channel Mash, and later reported by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) portal ‘Lo Scarpone’. While there is hope for Nagovitsyna’s rescue, efforts for Sinigaglia can only focus on recovering his body, which remains in an ice cave at 6,900 meters.
An unmarried cybersecurity professional with no children, Sinigaglia was known for his passion for adventure travel. The Italian Embassy in Astana, coordinating with the honorary consul in Bishkek, is managing the crisis and maintaining contact with local authorities and the family.
In a statement to Repubblica, his sister said, “He performed an act of great courage. We are devastated, but we can hold onto this knowledge. He would never have left anyone behind.” Tributes on social media have already hailed him as a “hero,” with one user writing on his Instagram profile: “A gesture that opens the gates to heaven’s climbs.”