A major rescue effort continues in Pakistan's Karakoram mountains where former German biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier lies severely hurt following a rockfall incident.
The 31-year-old double Olympic gold medallist sustained serious injuries during Monday's accident, prompting an extensive search operation.
Pakistani military forces have joined the rescue mission to reach the retired athlete in the remote mountainous region.
Challenging weather conditions and the isolated location have significantly complicated efforts to extract Dahlmeier from the accident site.
A major rescue effort continues in Pakistan's Karakoram mountains where former German biathlon star Laura Dahlmeier lies severely hurt following a rockfall incident
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The former winter sports champion, who claimed two gold medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, remains stranded as rescue teams work to overcome the difficult terrain and atmospheric conditions hampering the operation.
The rockfall struck at approximately midday local time on Monday whilst Dahlmeier was climbing at an elevation of roughly 5,700 metres.
Her climbing companion immediately alerted emergency services following the incident.
Laura Dahlmeier established herself as a German biathlon legend during her sporting career
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Rescue teams faced significant delays in reaching the injured mountaineer due to the area's extreme remoteness.
A rescue helicopter could not access the accident location until Tuesday morning, nearly 24 hours after the initial emergency call.
Dahlmeier's management confirmed to German broadcaster ZDF: "Laura Dahlmeier was climbing with her mountaineering partner on 28 July when she was caught in the rockfall.
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"The accident took place around noon local time at an altitude of approximately 5,700 metres."
The management team added: "Her partner immediately called emergency services and a rescue operation began immediately. Due to the remoteness of the area, a helicopter was only able to reach the site of the accident on the morning of 29 July."
Poor visibility forced search teams to halt their efforts on Tuesday evening as darkness fell across the mountain range. Operations were set to restart on Wednesday morning, according to reports from German broadcaster ZDF.
Provincial government representative Faizullah Faraq confirmed that Pakistani armed forces continue to support the rescue mission.
Dahlmeier established herself as one of biathlon's most successful competitors before stepping away from professional sport in May 2019 at just 25 years old.
Her Olympic triumph in South Korea saw her become the first female athlete to secure victory in both sprint and pursuit disciplines at a single Games.
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Laura Dahlmeier won two gold medals back in 2018
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Beyond her Olympic success, which included a bronze medal alongside her two golds, Dahlmeier accumulated an impressive collection of 15 World Championship medals throughout her career.
Seven of these were gold medals, earned across five different World Championship competitions.
The Bavarian athlete developed her mountaineering skills alongside her biathlon career, becoming an accomplished climber following her early retirement from competitive winter sports.