Tom Ballard: Search for missing climbers 'not over'
A senior diplomat has said the search for two missing climbers is due to continue despite reports it had ended.
Briton Tom Ballard and Italian Daniele Nardi last made contact from Nanga Parbat in Pakistan at an altitude of about 20,700ft , 11 days ago.it had been a"painful decision" to end the search. However, Stefano Pontecorvo, the Italian ambassador to Pakistan, said the search was due to continue."Until they tell me that there is no scope to continue I'd say that together with the family I'd encourage them to go forward.
"If we come to a point in which everything possible has been done and nothing has been found, at that point it will be up to the families - although advised by us - to call it off. We're not there yet," he said.The rescue team in Pakistan is expected to make another attempt to scour the mountain for any trace of them.
The two climbers went missing 11 days ago on what's known as the Killer Mountain and nothing has been heard from them since.But members of the rescue team are now due to be taken high up the mountain by helicopter to look at areas they'd not searched previously.The team leader, a Spanish climber, is to leave the area soon to return to his winter expedition on K2.
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