Iñaki Ochoa de Olza, born on May 29, 1967 in Pamplona, Navarre and passing away on May 23, 2008 in Annapurna, Nepal, was a skilled Spanish climber. Throughout his career, he participated in over thirty climbing expeditions in the Himalayas and served as a guide on more than 200 expeditions. Known for his impressive achievements, Ochoa de Olza successfully climbed 12 of the world's 14 highest mountains, including a repeat ascent of Cho Oyu, all without the use of supplemental oxygen. He firmly stood against the use of oxygen in mountaineering, expressing his belief that relying on it made climbers more like astronauts or scuba divers than alpinists. Tragically, he succumbed to pulmonary edema in May 2008 while attempting to climb Annapurna, which would have been his 13th eight thousander. Ochoa and his climbing partner, Horia Colibășanu, were making their way up to the peak of Annapurna when they were met with hazardous weather conditions, prompting them to stop their ascent. Additionally, Ochoa had sustained frostbite to his hands, further necessitating a pause in their climb. As they descended the mountain, Ochoa collapsed and experienced a seizure near Camp 4 on Annapurna. Following his family's wishes, his body remains at an altitude of 7,400 meters on the mountain. In the morning of May 23, 2008, the strong Spanish mountaineer Inaki Ochoa de Olza tragically lost his life on the South Face of Annapurna, one of the renowned 8000m peaks in the Himalayas. The news was revealed by the Spanish newspaper Diario de Navarra, detailing the mountaineer's struggle at 7400m amidst unfavorable weather conditions. Ochoa's health deteriorated rapidly due to brain damage and pulmonary edema, ultimately leading to his passing at 8.45 am. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Swissman Ueli Steck, who had brought medication, was unable to save him
Iñaki Ochoa de Olza, born on May 29, 1967 in Pamplona, Navarre and passing away on May 23, 2008 in Annapurna, Nepal, was a skilled Spanish climber. Throughout his career, he participated in over thirty climbing expeditions in the Himalayas and served as a guide on more than 200 expeditions. Known for his impressive achievements,
