KUALA LUMPUR: The body of a Malaysian climber who died after being stranded at a height of 19,700ft on Mount Denali in Alaska has been retrieved.
The of body 37-year-old Zulkifli Yusof was brought down at 8.30am local time yesterday (12.30am today in Malaysia), according to the Alpine Club Malaysia in a Facebook posting, and taken to a hospital in Anchorage.
The club said it was informed of this by the Malaysian consulate in Los Angeles.
"The family, aided by consular officers, is communicating with the insurance company to bring Zulkifli's remains home as soon as possible," it said.
Meanwhile, two other Malaysian climbers — Muhammad Illaham Ishak and Zainudin Lot, both aged 47 — were still being treated in hospital for frostbite.
"A club representative, Norsafrina Shamsir Md Nasir, is now in Talkeetna, Alaska, to help with arrangements to bring (Zulkifli's) remains as well as Illaham and Zainudin home.
"For now, we ask that the next of kin and family be given privacy. We also ask for Malaysians to pray that all arrangements can be made smoothly," the club said.
It was reported that the three climbers had been stranded on Mount Denali, the tallest peak in North America, since Tuesday.
Illaham was rescued on that day itself, while Zainudin was brought down on Friday.
However, Zulkifli was reported to have died on Wednesday.