A British tourist has tragically lost his life after sustaining severe injuries while trekking in the Himalayas. The individual, who was hiking with another British tourist at the base of the Dhauladhar mountain range in northern India, fell during his descent on Sunday evening and required evacuation via stretcher. He reportedly suffered rib injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital on Monday.
Local authorities indicated that both men, believed to be 27 years old, were unaware that high-altitude trekking is prohibited in the region during winter months. The pair had arrived in Dharamshala on Friday and set out on their trek from Dharamkot to Triund, a popular 6km (3.7 miles) trail that ascends to nearly 3,000 meters above sea level in a single day. Local tourism resources describe the Triund trek as a relatively easy hike suitable for fit beginners.
The Himachal Pradesh state disaster response force reported that a rescue team of 10 personnel began their ascent from Thathri, a nearby town, shortly after receiving the distress call at 6pm on Sunday. Upon reaching Dritto cafe, they learned that the victims were located 4km further uphill in challenging terrain. After four hours of trekking, the team found one of the trekkers in critical condition at 10:30pm. They secured him on a stretcher and began the difficult descent with his companion.
The treacherous terrain and multiple crossings of a small stream significantly slowed their progress, with the team taking nearly two hours to cover just 100 meters. Early Monday morning, the exhausted first team requested additional support. A second and eventually a third rescue team were dispatched. After what is believed to be a nearly 20-hour descent, the critically injured man was transported by ambulance to the hospital just after 5pm on Monday, where he was declared dead. His identity has not yet been officially confirmed.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office stated, “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in India and are in contact with the local authorities.” In a related incident last October, a British mountaineer and her American companion were rescued from the Himalayas three days after their supplies were swept away by a rockfall. They managed to send an SOS message and endured two nights in freezing conditions before being airlifted to safety.
