Achille Compagnoni | Italian climber, 94
Achille Compagnoni, 94, a member of the first team to reach the summit of the world's second-highest peak, died Wednesday at a hospital in Aosta, Italy, where he had been treated for several weeks.
Achille Compagnoni, 94, a member of the first team to reach the summit of the world's second-highest peak, died Wednesday at a hospital in Aosta, Italy, where he had been treated for several weeks.
On July 31, 1954, Mr. Compagnoni and fellow Italian Lino Lacedelli become the first to the summit of Pakistan's K-2, which at 28,251 feet is the world's second-highest peak after Mount Everest. The deed filled Italy with pride just as it was starting to emerge from the destruction of World War II.
Since then, only about 280 people have reached K-2's summit. Dozens of deaths have been recorded since 1939, most occurring during the descent. K-2 is steeper and more dangerous than Everest, and often has more intense weather.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano called Mr. Compagnoni the "intrepid protagonist" of the historic 1954 expedition. Mr. Compagnoni was recognized with one of Italy's highest civilian awards, the medal of honor for civil valor.
- AP