THE remains of a Malaysian climber who died after being stranded on Mount Denali in Alaska will be repatriated as soon as a post-mortem examination is completed, said Wisma Putra.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the body of 37-year-old Zulkifli Yusof was successfully brought down from the mountain and is currently at a local medical facility awaiting post-mortem examination.
“The next of kin have decided that the body will be repatriated to Malaysia. The Malaysian consulate-general (in Los Angeles, California) will continue to provide consular assistance to ensure a smooth repatriation process,” it said in a statement today.
Zulkifly, originally from Kuala Lumpur, worked as a gas engineer.
Two other Malaysian climbers — Muhammad Illaham Ishak and Zainudin Lot, both aged 47 — are being treated for frostbite at the hospital.
Illaham said he was lucky to be alive.
He overcame frostbite and mental trauma as he climbed down to seek help for the two other stricken climbers, who were sheltering inside a cave.
Zulkifly died last Wednesday while seeking shelter at a place called the “Football Field” cave shelter at Mount Denali.
Recalling his ordeal to Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammed Bakhtiar Wan Chik, Illaham said he was forced to leave Zulkifly with another climber, Zainudin Lot, 47, as he descended, braving flurries and a winter storm to seek help.
Illaham did it despite experiencing frostbite as the weather turned unforgiving to the climbers from the Penang-based Alpine Club Malaysia.
It was earlier reported that Denali National Park had received an SOS call from two of the Malaysian climbers that they were unable to descend the summit as they were hypothermic.
The mountain’s highly trained rangers were unable to reach Zulkifly on time.
It is believed that the weather with poor visibility played a part.
Mount Denali is the highest in North America, and the group of Malaysian climbers had a lot of experience climbing peaks all over the world. – June 2, 2024.
