Mountaineer abandons solo attempt to climb K2

A 44-year old mountaineer yesterday appeared to have abandoned his attempt to climb K2, the world’s second highest peak, alone in winter.

Denis Urubko, who was part of a Polish mountaineering team aiming to be the first to scale the 28,251ft-high K2 in winter, had broken away from his fellow climbers.

Michal Leksinski, the expedition’s spokesman, told the BBC Mr Urubko was determined on reaching the top by himself, but by yesterday the mountaineer had abandoned his plan and was descending from the peak.