Asia, Nepal, Annapurna South Face Attempt and Near Tragedy

Publication Year: 1994.

Annapurna South Face Attempt and Near Tragedy. Franc Knez and Slavko Sveticic attempted to complete the route on the south face of Annapurna previously tried by Beghin and Lafaille. Accompanied by Andreja Knez, they left on August 23 and a few days later were joined by Matjaž Pecovnik and a TV team. When at the end of September, Knez felt ill, Sveticic decided to try alone. On October 3, he began to climb with 50 kilos of equipment but after a bivouac at 6800 meters, he descended because of avalanche danger. On October 7, he set out again but at 6:45 A.M. he was swept down 500 meters by an avalanche. By nine A.M., the rescue operation began and he was carried down to Advance Base at 4800 meters by 7:30 P.M. The following day, he was carried to Base Camp and on October 9 was helicoptered to Kathmandu. He has returned to Slovenia, where it has been decided that no spine operation will be necessary.

Franci Savenc, Planinska zveza Slovenije