A fatal rock climbing accident in Washington’s North Cascades killed three men at the weekend. The accident happened on Saturday, May 10, in Okanogan County when an apparent anchor failure threw the climbers approximately 400 feet.
Victims Who Suffered
The victims were identified by authorities as:
- Alex Martynenko, 36, Bellevue
- Vishnu Irigireddy, 48, Renton
- Tim Nguyen, 63, Renton
All three were veteran climbers who had gone into the mountains for a week-end adventure.
Fourth Climber Is Alive
A fourth climber, Anton Tselykh, 38, of Seattle, survived the fall in a miraculous escape. Although injured, he was able to hike over snow-covered rugged country at night. Tselykh made it to his car and drove to the closest payphone to contact emergency services.
“I cannot even imagine how he survived,” said Olga Martynenko, widow of one of the dead climbers.
Rescue teams subsequently arrived by helicopter and found the dead climbers at the site of the accident.
What Went Wrong
The team was rappelling down a steep slope when their anchor allegedly failed, causing the fatal fall. The reason for the equipment failure is not yet known.
Climbers in the area report that conditions in the North Cascades can shift quickly, with steep vertical walls and volatile weather.
A Final Message
The group departed for the trip on May 9. That evening, Alex texted his wife from the base camp. “He said he was going to bed,” Olga recalled. “I wrote ‘love you’and that was the last message he read from me.”
Alex Martynenko had grown to love the mountains deeply after the couple relocated from Ukraine to Washington. “He was a big climber,” Olga said. “He fell in love with the mountains here.”
A Family Shattered
Now, Olga must endure the agonizing work of bringing up their 5-year-old son, Daniel, alone without his father. “He wanted to build us a happy life,” she said. “We were sort of like the perfect couple. He loved me too much.”
She learned of the death of Alex on Sunday evening when police came to her house. Friends and neighbors have since rallied round her.
Community Response
A fundraising effort has been started to assist Olga and Daniel through this very difficult time. People in the community have had their sorrow and disbelief over the tragedy.
“I didn’t know to expect this out of a weekend climbing excursion,” said one family acquaintance. “It’s devastating.”
Continuing Hazard
The accident shines light on the dangers climbers are at in the North Cascades, even if they are experienced and well-prepared. The region is famous for its beauty, and for being hazardous.
Rock climbers advise those going into the mountains to double-check gear, particularly anchors, and never second-guess the terrain.
Remembering the Climbers
All three victims loved adventure, were close friends, and had strong attachments to their families and communities. Their passing is not only mourned by loved ones, but by the overall Pacific Northwest rock climbing community.
As one of the mourners put it simply: “They died doing what they loved, but it should never have ended this way.”
