Details emerge of Malaysian climber’s final moments at 6,000m on North America’s tallest peak

Zulkifli bin Yusof, 36, sheltered for days in a snow cave near the top of Denali, North America’s tallest mountain, with minimal survival gear

He was part of a three-man climbing team from the Alpine Club of Malaysia in Subang Jaya. His companions, aged 47 and 48, survived

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Denali, North America’s tallest peak, in Alaska. Park rangers recovered the Malaysian climber’s body on Friday night. Photo: AP

Published: 11:28am, 2 Jun 2024Updated: 4:57pm, 2 Jun 2024

A Malaysian climber likely died of exposure and altitude-related illness earlier this week after sheltering for days in a snow cave with minimal survival gear near the top of Denali, North America’s tallest mountain in Alaska, according to park officials.

Zulkifli Bin Yusof, 36, likely died on Wednesday in a 19,600 foot (5,974 metre) elevation cave in Denali National Park and Preserve, park spokesman Paul Ollig said on Saturday. The National Park Service recovered his body on Friday night, Ollig said.

Zulkifli was part of a three-man climbing team, all of whom listed their address as the Alpine Club of Malaysia in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, according to Ollig. Yusof’s two partners survived.

Park rangers first received an SOS message from the team at 1am on Tuesday, indicating the climbers were hypothermic and unable to descend after reaching the Alaskan mountain’s 20,310-foot (6,190-metre) summit.

One of the men, a 48-year-old, was rescued on Tuesday night after descending to a 17,200-foot (5,243-metre) camp. He was described by the park as having severe frostbite and hypothermia.

The summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s tallest mountain, is 6,190 metres above sea level. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS

Late on Thursday, the park’s high-altitude helicopter pilot was able to drop a bag with survival gear near the snow cave and saw a climber waving at him, but strong winds prevented a rescue at that time, the park said.