Iranian climber dies in Kyrgyzstan while on Lenin Peak expedition

One of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s most adventurous climbers, Alireza Boroujerdi Karimi, has succumbed to altitude sickness during a climb on Lenin Peak, or Ibn Sina (Avicenna) Peak, on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Boroujerdi Karimi, who was a member of the five-strong Varamin mountaineering team, suffered the condition due to a lack of supplementary oxygen, and eventually lost his life, the Islamic Republic of Iran Mountaineering & Sport Climbing Federation reported.

His teammates and Russian mountain guides could recover his body after a while. The corpse has reportedly been transported to the Kyrgyz capital city of Bishkek to be flown back to Tehran.

Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude.

Minor AMS symptoms such as breathlessness may occur at altitudes of 1,500 meters (5,000 feet), but it commonly happens above 2,400 meters (8,000 feet).

Lenin Peak rises to 7,134 meters (23,406 feet). Hundreds of climbers make their way to the summit every year.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk