IAF team rescues French mountanineer stuck in Ladakh

A senior member of the French trekking expedition, Mrs Barbier, suffered from acute mountain sickness while on trek to higher Zanskar ranges. The expedition requested Air Headquarters here for emergency air rescue through their embassy, a Western Air Command spokesperson said.

The Leh-based Siachen Pioneers received a message on the night of August 11 for evacuating this French national after which a two helicopter rescue team got airborne at 6 AM next day, he said.

One of the pilots, Sqn Ldr S Agnihotri maneuvered his helicopter to land in the restricted area with marginal reserve of power after which the French woman was taken onboard while the second helicopter maintained a close vigil from the top, the spokesperson said.

She was then taken to a place where she could be provided with the necessary medical treatment.

The same unit had been honoured by the American embassy here for safely evacuating a US national stuck at a high peak during an expedition.