German biathlete Dahlmeier dies in climbing accident in Pakistan

German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died on a mountain in northern Pakistan after a climbing accident at a remote site that rescuers struggled to reach because of bad weather, a local government spokesman said Wednesday.

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Dahlmeier, an Olympic gold medallist, was ascending Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range on Monday when she was struck by falling rocks while climbing with a partner who survived.

Rescuers were able to confirm Dahlmeier’s death on Wednesday but not retrieve the body because of unfavourable weather, said Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional Gilgit-Baltistan government.

Any final decision on retrieving the body would follow the wishes of Dahlmeier's family, Faraq said.

A statement on Dalhmeier’s Instagram page said it had been her wish that nobody risk their life to recover her body after an accident.