Mummified remains of American mountaineer found in the Peruvian Andes

In the Peruvian Andes, the body of an American mountaineer, who died in 2002 while attempting to reach the summit of Huascarán in the western part of the country, was discovered, Peruvian police reported on Tuesday.

The remains of the man, who died 22 years ago as a result of being buried by a snow avalanche, were found in a mummified state. According to the police services in Peru, this was due to the low temperatures at an altitude of approximately 5,182 metres above sea level.

Local media reported that after receiving a signal from one of the mountaineers, a police rescue team went on Monday to the mountain at a height of approximately 6,706 metres above sea level. There, they found the man's well-preserved body and climbing equipment.

Peruvian news agency Andina reported that police found an American driver's licence in the man's jacket. This document was issued in the name of William Stempel from California.

The tragic accident in which the man died occurred in June 2002. At that time, he was attempting to reach the summit of Huascarán with two companions. Unfortunately, all members of the expedition perished, buried by the avalanche. Two years after the tragedy, the body of one of the victims was found.

The body of the third mountaineer has yet to be found. Peruvian police claim that the terrain full of crevasses, where the avalanche descended, complicates the search.