Press Release on the Death of Alpinist Janez Svoljšak

Alpine Association of Slovenia announces that on Monday, July 15, Slovenian top alpinist Janez Svoljšak, member of the Mountaineering Section of PD Kranj, died on an expedition in Pakistan.







On the mountaineering expedition to the six-thousander Tahu Rutum in the Karakorum in Pakistan, 25-year-old Slovenian top alpinist Janez Svoljšak from Škofja Loka (member of AO PD Kranj) died in base camp. According to initial information, during sleep a little before 4 a.m., he started snoring deeply, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing. In base camp, they immediately began emergency medical assistance and resuscitated him for three hours, but unfortunately in vain. Currently, activities are underway to transport the deceased to the valley and then to Slovenia.







Svoljšak had previously climbed on mountaineering expeditions in Pakistan, Patagonia, and Alaska, combined routes or icefalls in the Canadian Rocky Mountains as well as Montana and Colorado in the USA. Among his ascents, a solo ascent of the north face of Matterhorn (Schmidt route) and a solo ascent of Mont Blanc in one day along the Innominata ridge stand out. In 2016, he was the European champion in ice climbing and winner of the World Cup competition.