British Climber Fatally Engulfed in Avalanche on Norwegian Frozen Waterfall

In Norway, a tragic incident unfolded when a British climber was killed while scaling a frozen waterfall near Rjukan. The ill-fated ascent, part of an attempt at the Gausta Marathon—a challenging climb on one of the region’s longest waterfalls—ended in disaster when an avalanche of snow and ice engulfed the pair. Rescue teams faced significant obstacles due to treacherous weather, poor mobile phone coverage, and dangerously low visibility, which delayed the safe recovery of the climber's body until several days later.

Meanwhile, the climber's friend, a man in his 30s, was injured but is expected to recover after a helicopter evacuation to Ullevål Hospital. Local rescue efforts, involving several teams navigating the wet snow on skis and snowshoes while secured with ropes, prioritized his rescue during a prolonged 24-hour operation. Local climbing guide Jørn Knustad noted that snow and ice avalanches pose inherent risks in the area, emphasizing that the duo was likely well-prepared for a climb of this nature. An official from the FCDO confirmed that support is being extended to the family of the deceased as well as to the injured climber, with local authorities actively involved in the investigation.