During a training session of the International Mountain Rescue Course, held on Vallunaraju Mountain located in Huascarán National Park, Peru, a group of mountaineers found themselves unexpectedly involved in a real emergency when a glacial mass detached from the mountain.
What initially was a simulation in adverse weather conditions turned, in a matter of seconds, into a genuine rescue operation. The situation, recorded on video and quickly shared on social media, tested the participants’ preparedness.
The rescuers’ experience was key
One of the team members, Ecuadorian ultramarathon runner Javier Rivadeneira, shared on Instagram his testimony about the unexpected challenge. In his post, he recounted the impact of the moment and the role of his teammates in the rescue operation.
“I felt a real fear when the structure began to crumble, and I was the backup for my teammates from Colombia. It was then when my teammate executed the maneuver perfectly to recover our team member,” explained Rivadeneira.
Thanks to the accumulated experience and the knowledge acquired in the previous days of the course, the participants managed to act in a coordinated and effective manner. “I am proud of my entire team,” highlighted the mountaineer.
An unexpected learning experience in action
What could have resulted in a tragedy turned into an invaluable lesson for the course participants. The training, which brought together mountaineers from different countries, ended up providing an unexpected practical exercise, demonstrating the importance of having well-trained rescue skills.
The incident also reaffirmed the importance of preparation for extreme conditions in high mountain environments, where risks are always present and can turn a training session into a real emergency.
*Video by @ultramaratonistajavier
