Overview

• Laura Dahlmeier was struck by falling rocks on July 28 at about 5,700 meters during an ascent of Pic Laila, and a subsequent helicopter survey found no signs of life.
• International ground teams attempted a terrestrial rescue on July 30 but were driven back by torrential monsoon rains and high winds.
• Her management agency officially declared her dead on the evening of July 30 after all immediate rescue efforts failed to reach her.
• On July 31, officials halted all recovery operations, citing extreme high-altitude hazards and her own written instructions that prohibited risking other lives.
• A double Olympic and seven-time world biathlon champion who retired in 2019, Dahlmeier became a certified mountain and ski guide and set a speed record on Nepal’s Ama Dablam in November 2024.