Legendary Russian Climber Dies After Scaling Kyrgyzstan’s Highest Peak

Nikolay Totmyanin, captain of Russia’s national mountaineering team, has died shortly after conquering Peak Pobeda, the highest mountain in Kyrgyzstan at 7,439 meters.

The 66-year-old climber reportedly suffered heart failure during the descent, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

According to fellow expedition members, Totmyanin insisted on making his way down on his own, realizing the urgency of the situation. He was admitted to a hospital in Bishkek, but despite doctors’ efforts, he passed away.

Totmyanin was one of Russia’s most accomplished mountaineers - an Honored Master of Sports, recipient of the prestigious “Golden Ice Axe” award, and a six-time holder of the “Snow Leopard” title. He was also a Piolets d’Or laureate for his pioneering ascent of the north face of Jannu in Nepal (7,710 meters) and had summited Mount Everest twice.

A veteran of the sport since 1976, Totmyanin’s achievements and contributions to mountaineering earned him a place among the world’s elite climbers.