Handout photo of an undated release by the Peruvian National Police on July 8, 2024. It shows police officers in the Ancash region, 400 km north of Lima, removing the body of American climber William Stample, who was reported missing in June 2002. The body of an American climber who went missing 22 years ago while climbing a 6,700-metre mountain in Peru was found mummified, but his clothes were in good condition, police said on July 8, 2024. (Handout photo/Peruvian National Police/AFP) / Editorial use restricted – credit “AFP PHOTO / Peruvian National Police” required – no marketing or advertising campaigns – Handout as customer service
July 8, 2024
LIMA, Peru (AFP) — The preserved body of an American climber who went missing 22 years ago while climbing a snowy Peruvian mountain has been discovered, exposed by melting ice caused by climate change, police said on Monday.
William Stample was reported missing in June 2002, at age 59, when his climbing team was swept away by an avalanche on Mount Huascarán, which is over 6,700 metres (22,000 feet) above sea level. Search and rescue efforts were unsuccessful.
Peruvian police said his body was eventually discovered by melting ice in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range in the Andes.
Images released by police showed Stampfl’s body, clothing, harness and boots were in good condition due to the cold weather.
A passport was found among his belongings, enabling police to identify the body.
The mountains of northeastern Peru, home to snow-capped peaks such as Huascaran and Cachan, are popular with climbers from all over the world.
In May, the body of an Israeli hiker was found there nearly a month after he went missing.
And last month, an experienced Italian climber was found dead after falling while attempting to summit another peak in the Andes.
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