Army’s supportBy Reuters July 29, 2025

Laura Dahlmeier, a renowned German biathlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has sustained serious injuries in a mountaineering accident in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, according to German media and official sources.

The incident occurred on Monday when a landslide struck the Hushe Valley—part of the rugged northern mountain ranges in Pakistan. Faizullah Faraq, a spokesperson for the Gilgit-Baltistan government, confirmed the incident, stating that Dahlmeier was injured after being caught in the landslide.

Local reports suggest that Dahlmeier was rescued from the site by villagers, while one of her companions, identified as Kraus Marina Eva, remains trapped at the location.

Germany’s ZDF broadcaster reported that no formal emergency rescue team had reached the victims at the time of reporting, and a helicopter survey conducted on Tuesday showed no visible signs of life at the landslide area.

Dahlmeier retired from professional sports in 2019 at the age of 25, shortly after making history as the first female biathlete to win both the sprint and pursuit events at the same Winter Olympics.

Her management has not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the situation.

Faraq added that a rescue operation is currently in progress with the assistance of the Pakistan Army. However, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rains and poor visibility, have prevented helicopter access to the remote site.

Pakistan’s mountainous northern areas have recently been affected by severe monsoon-related weather. Landslides and flooding have claimed the lives of several local tourists in the region.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, 288 people have died across Pakistan due to flooding and rain-related incidents since the start of the monsoon season in late June.