British climber missing along with her American girlfriend on 7,000-metre mountain after ‘equipment plunged into ravine’ as weather halts helicopter search in northern India
A British climber has gone missing with her American girlfriend on a 7,000-metre Himalayan mountain after their equipment and food fell into a ravine.
Fears are growing over the safety of Britons Fay Manners, 37, and Michelle Dvorak, 31, who have been missing since Thursday when they climbed Mount Chaukhamba in India.
According to local officials, the pair sent a panicked message back to the base camp to say they were in trouble more than 48 hours ago after losing their climbing gear, tent and food in a gorge.
Helicopters were immediately sent to search for the two women in the snow-covered region of northern India.
However, according to The sunit had to be stopped due to harsh weather conditions at high altitude.
British climber Fay Manners, 37, has disappeared in the Himalayas after her climbing equipment and food fell into a ravine
The Bedford resident, who now lives in the Alps, was accompanied on her latest climb by American Michelle Dvorak, 31. Michelle (pictured) is also missing
The pair sent an emergency message halfway up Chaukhamba Mountain in the Indian Himalayas on Thursday
Chaukhamba is located in the Indian Himalayas, near the northern border with China. They reportedly received permission to climb the mountain on September 15 and set out from New Delhi
The Brit from Bedford left Britain to move to the Alps to pursue her passion for climbing and became a professional alpinist
The rescue operation’s leadership said a group will follow the steps of the experienced climbers to Chaukhamba on Sunday morning in the hope of finding the pair.
The Indian Army and Air Force are among a number of regional and national agencies working together in the rescue effort.
“We hope to evacuate these two ladies as soon as possible,” said the head of the rescue operation.
Fay and Michelle are said to have sent their SOS message from a pager to mountain rescue when they were 20,000 feet up the mountain, and have not been heard from since.
The Brit, from Bedford, left Britain to move to the Alps to pursue her passion for climbing and became a professional alpinist, sponsored by brands including The North Face and Petzl.
She has become the first person to complete a number of complex routes across several alpine mountains since her move.
“My ambition is to inspire women to pursue their interest in mountaineering,” according to her website.
According to her Instagram – which has more than 15,000 followers – Fay is also a data consultant ‘by night’.
Fay pictured in her sleeping bag halfway up a mountain in Kyrgyzstan in August
The duo has previously completed a number of climbs together. Michelle is seen climbing together in Alaska in June
Fay (seen in the Alps during the summer) is sponsored by major brands including The North Face
Michelle is not only an experienced climber, but also a teaching assistant at the University of Washington, according to her social media
Fay has become the first person to complete a number of complex routes across several alpine mountains since moving to Europe
Her companion, Michelle, is also an accomplished climber and teaching assistant at the University of Washington, according to her social media.
Both had permission from the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) before starting their climb – as is required to climb mountains as treacherous as Chaukhamba.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was “supporting the family of a British woman reported missing in India,” adding that it was in contact with Indian authorities.
MailOnline has contacted the IMF for comment.
