April, 2010:

Kathmandu, Nepal (April 23, 2010): In a dangerous operation, Fishtail Air airlifted the dead body of a Danish mountaineer Philip Ulrich using sling operation at Mt. Kyajo Ri(6186m/ 20,290 feet) in the Khumbu Himal. Unfortunately Ulrich fell to his death (from 19,000m), between Base Camp and summit. Late Philip Ulrich (52 years) was climbing Mt. Kyajo Ri with his son.

Sherpas were unable to retrieve his dead body, as his body had landed at an inaccessible point. As there was no other way to retrieve the dead body, Danish Embassy finally requested ‘Fishtail Air’ to airlift late Ulrich’s body.

Capt. Sabin Basnyat and Technician Purna Awale retrieved the dead body using ‘sling operation’, on Fishtail Air’s newly arrived Aircraft, AS 350 B3. While Sabin Basnyat controlled the chopper, Mr. Awale hung on to a 45m long rope and tied the dead body to a harness, after which it was flown to safe ground. This is the first such operation carried out by Fishtail Air’s Capt.Sabin Basnyat and Technician Purna Awale after receiving training for the same at ‘Air Zermatt’ in Switzerland last month.

Pics: Late Peter Ulrich’s dead body being air lifted by Fishtail Air’ as 350 B3 using ‘sling operation’ at Mt. Kyajo Ri (6186m), Khumbu Himal