Tom Ballard: Search for British climber was ‘never called off’

A senior diplomat has said the search for a British climber who went missing on the world’s ninth-highest mountain was “never called off”, contrary to previous reports.

Tom Ballard, 30, was climbing Nanga Parbat in Pakistan with his Italian climbing companion Daniele Nardi when they lost contact a week ago.

The pair had set off on 22 February and last made contact two days later while at about 6,300 metres (20,700ft).

On Wednesday, Karrar Haidri, secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said rescue efforts had ended after another unsuccessful day.

He said the decision was a “very painful” one to make after the rescuers tried everything they could – including flying out drones – to find the pair.

However Stefano Pontecorvo, the Italian ambassador to Pakistan, disregarded Mr Haidri’s announcement and tweeted the search would continue on Thursday.

Mr Pontecorvo, who has been liaising with Mr Nardi’s family, also confirmed to Press Association that the “search is still on”.

He said: “People who had second hand information then tweeted and it becomes truth. It’s never been called off.

“I think we’ve got among the best on the ground that there is now and also pretty technologically advanced equipment.

“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.”

He said if the rescue team finds nothing after “everything possible” has been done, it will be up to the families to call it off.

Another decision is likely to come on Thursday.

The Spanish-Pakistani search team lost hope of finding any trace of Mr Ballard and Mr Nardi as weather conditions continued to worsen.

The pair had been accompanied by two Pakistani mountaineers, but they turned back because they thought the bad weather was too dangerous.

Heavy snowfall over the last few days also raised fears that the climbers may have perished.

Mr Pontecorvo also gave an update of Wednesday’s search, claiming search leader Alex Txikon did not find anything on an alternative route.

“There are still a few pieces of the Mummery which he has not further explored and that’s what he’s going to do [tomorrow].”

Mr Ballard was born in Derbyshire but moved to the Scottish Highlands in 1995. That same year, his mother Alison Hargreaves died on K2 when she was 33 – just months after becoming the first woman to conquer Everest unaided.

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