The final mountaineer trapped on K2, the world’s second highest peak, has been rescued, five days after an avalanche killed 11 of his fellow climbers.

Italian climber Marco Confortola, 37, and three members of his support team were today taken from a base camp of K2 and are on their way to a nearby town after a helictopter plucked them from the mountain, a Pakistani army spokesman said.

Eleven mountaineers died from the avalanche and exposure when an ice fall stranded them near the 28,250ft (8,600m) summit of K2 on Friday. They included three South Koreans, two Nepalis, two Pakistanis and mountaineers from France, Ireland, Serbia and Norway. Two Dutch survivors were rescued on Monday and are being cared for in a military hospital.

Despite suffering severe frostbite, Mr Confortola had limped to Base Camp at 17,400ft (5,300m) on Monday, and was helped by two Nepalese sherpas and an American climber, where he was given food, fluids and oxygen.

Times Archive, 1954: K2 conquered

The Italian climbers' success derives extra merit from the fact that misfortune dogged their footsteps

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However he had to wait an extra day to be rescued due to bad weather conditions which meant the helicopters could not airlift him to hospital.

Two Dutch survivors were rescued on Monday and are being cared for in a military hospital.

“I am happy to be alive,” Mr Confortola told Everest-K2-CNR, an Italy-based high-altitude scientific research group, during a phone call from Base Camp.

The group's spokeswoman, Francesca Steffanoni, said the mountaineer was examined by an American doctor and reported to be in good condition, despite his blackened, frostbitten toes.

“I am fine, luckily I'm made of stern stuff,” Confortola said, according to a transcript of the conversation. “The only problem is that my feet hurt. I spent seven days on that mountain. It was hard. It was terrible.”

Mr Confortola told Italy's SKY TG 24 TV that he would return to Italy +as soon as possible; to see a doctor he trusted to treat his feet and lower limbs.

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