On Saturday at 11 o’clock, Nepali time, the eight-thousander, Manaslu, forever took the life of the Slovenian Alpine climber and mountain rescuer Franc Oderlap from Mežica. 51-year old Oderlap and Davo Karničar were visiting the Nepalese Himalayas to test the equipment for their ski expedition to K2, planned for 2010, when Oderlap was hit on the head by a piece of ice at an altitude of 5,800m. He was an Alpine climbing, mountain rescue and helicopter rescue instructor and the first Slovene to take on the highest peaks of all continents, including Mount Everest and Cho Oyu.

The accident occurred on the way from Camp 1, at approximately 5,800m above sea level, at 7 o’clock by Central European Time. Despite successful transport into the Katmandu hospital and immediate medical assistance, Oderlap did not survive his injuries.

Immediately after the tragic announcement, we called a successful Slovenian Alpine climber, Viki Grošelj, who told us, in shock: “I knew him very well, he was an outstanding personality – one of those people I always enjoyed crossing paths with. He always unselfishly offered help to anyone at anytime. We worked together perfectly. I am extremely shocked and saddened at this news.” His friends describe him as a composed and tolerant person, who was always ready and willing to help anyone.