Dutch consul seeks Nepal Army help in search for missing climber on Mt Dhaulagiri

KATHMANDU: The Netherlands Consulate in Nepal has sought Nepal Army's help in search for a Dutch climber who went missing from the Mt Dhaulagiri base camp for over four weeks.

In a meeting with the officials at the Department of Tourism, the Netherlands Consulate asked the authorities to mobilise the trained personnel from Nepal Army's High Altitude and Mountain Warfare Training Academy in Jomsom to help locate Christiaan Wilson. The 35-year-old climber was last seen at the base camp on May 16 after abandoning his bid on the world’s seventh highest mountain.

Consul Officer Kari Cuelenaere sought Nepal Army's help after several ground and air searches failed to find a clue on Wilson’s whereabouts, according to Bodhraj Bhandari, Managing Director at Snowy Horizon Treks and Expedition. Bhandari was also present in the meeting with the government officials.

“Department of Tourism has also agreed to write to Nepal Army Headquarters for mobilisation of its troop from Jomsom,” Gyanendra Shrestha, a DoT official said. Once it gets the Headquarters’ consent, the army men in Jomsom would launch ground as well aerial search, he added.

Wilson, who headed to the mountain without climbing guides and support staff, never returned to the Italian base camp after descending from the base camp, Bhandari said.

Wilson had reached up to Camp II but decided to give up the climbing mission as he reached there as a free individual trekker.

He last used his satellite phone, but he did not respond to text messages which were sent later. “Since then there is no trace of him.”

Wilson, a client of Snowy Horizon, utilised a climbing permit issued through Himalaya Guides Treks and Expedition, Bhandari said.

“Wilson was supposed to take a flight back home via Bali, Indonesia on May 25.”

As he failed to make it on his flight at Tribhuvan International Airport, families and expedition organisers launched ground and aerial search on the mountain thereafter.

Family also announced a cash reward of USD 500 for anyone who helps in tracing Wilson.