The mummy of an American who died 22 years ago was found on the highest peak in Peru

Peruvian authorities found the mummified corpse of an American who died 22 years agoalong with two other mountaineers of the same nationality, after the three were trapped in a Snow avalanche while trying to climb Peru’s highest mountain, police said Tuesday.

Agent Luis Peña, from the Ranrahirca police station, in the Ancash region, confirmed by telephone to The Associated Press he The body of American William Stampfl was discovereda 58-year-old civil engineer at the time of his death. He was found on Friday, July 5, in the remote camp number one, at an altitude of about 5,200 meters, Mount Huascaranwhich measures 6,768 meters.

Peruvian police confirmed the discovery of the body of 58-year-old American civil engineer William Stampfl (Peruvian Police/AFP)

Among the belongings that allowed for rapid identification, the agent reported that They found the driver’s license which indicated that Stampfl lived in Chinesea city in the San Bernardino County, California.

The ice covering the mummified body preserved the climber’s clothing, harnesses, ropes and boots in good condition, Peña said.

The rescue team that found Stampfl’s body was made up of police officers from the High Mountain Rescue Department and from a company that offers guides for climbing snowy peaks. The descent with the mountaineer’s body placed on a stretcher was slow and difficult.the agent said. The remains were transferred to the morgue in the city of Yungay, in the Ancash region.

Stampfl disappeared on June 24, 2002 in an avalanche with his friends Matthew Richardson40 years old; and Steve Erskine51. After the fatality, only Erskine’s body was found, but Richardson’s body has yet to be recovered.

Agents from the High Mountain Department find the mummified body of a person in the Huascarán snow-capped mountain (Peru Police/EFE)

Huascarán is a peak frequently visited by climbers from all over the world and is located within the Cordillera Blanca. Climate change has affected the mountain range, where 27% of its ice cover has melted in almost 50 years, according to official data.

According to authorities, the peak season for climbers in the Cordillera Blanca is between May and September. In May, authorities found the body of a missing Israeli, while in June, an Italian died while trying to climb another peak in the mountain range.

Source: Infobae

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