Chilean mountaineer, 21, identified after fatal fall from Peru's Huascarán

A 21-year-old Chilean mountaineer, identified as Andrés Regueiro, died after falling roughly 900 meters during an ascent of the Nevado Huascarán in Peru's Áncash region. The accident occurred on August 4 while he was climbing the Gusher route on the mountain's northeast face.

Rescuers from the High Mountain Police and Peruvian Andean Rescue worked for several hours in a challenging, high-altitude environment to recover Regueiro's body. His remains were located midday on August 5 and subsequently evacuated to the morgue for legal procedures.

The incident was reported by a fellow Chilean climber, Michael Millán, 31, who reached the park ranger station. Millán informed officials that his climbing partner had fallen during the ascent, according to Edson Ramírez, a risk management specialist at Huascarán National Park. The fall happened on the Gusher route, established in 1978 and known for its technical difficulty and significant risks, including rockfalls, which deter most climbers.

This tragedy occurs shortly after the temporary restriction on access to Camp 1 and Camp 2 of Nevado Huascarán was lifted. The restriction, in place since July 20, aimed to ensure climber safety and facilitate the search for three Peruvian mountaineers who have been missing on the mountain since July 14.

Regueiro's death is the latest in a series of accidents on Huascarán. On July 16, an avalanche killed a porter and injured a tourist and a guide while specialized teams were searching for the three missing Peruvians. The incident happened on the La Canaleta route, a common ascent path to Peru's highest peak.

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The accident occurred on the Gusher route, a path opened in 1978 and considered one of the most technical and dangerous on Huascarán Norte. Due to its high complexity, steep slope, and constant rockfall, very few mountaineers traverse it.