(ECNS) -- Chinese mountaineer Guan Jing was killed Tuesday night by falling rocks after successfully reaching the summit of K2, the world's second-highest peak at 8,611 meters, located in the Karakoram Range on the Pakistan-China border.
Guan was struck by falling rocks during her descent and died instantly, according to her husband's post on social media Weibo.
Nepali media reported that recovery efforts are underway.
Guan was a very cheerful and strong girl, and her physical and mental condition was excellent, said climber Liu Yongzhong, adding that it's such a pity after overcoming such difficult conditions and successfully reaching the summit.
Liu explained that most mountaineering accidents occur during descent because climbers are often exhausted after reaching the summit, and weather conditions can deteriorate quickly.
K2, often regarded as the most dangerous mountain in the world, is famous for its steep slopes, unpredictable weather, and frequent rockfalls. This year's unusually dry winter in the Karakoram made climbing highly dangerous, with a major risk of falling rocks forcing several teams to abandon their summit attempts.
Guan, who came from a small mountain village in central China's Hunan Province, worked as a yoga instructor. She achieved fame last year after successfully summiting Mount Everest and famously performing a 20-second headstand at the top.
Known for her optimism and resilience, she often said that life should have no regrets. Her passion and courage ultimately defined her journey, even as it ended in tragedy.
(By Gong Weiwei)
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