Vishnu Irigireddy dies in fatal North Cascades rappelling fall

Vishnu Irigireddy dies in fatal North Cascades rappelling fall

Fatal North Cascades rappelling fall death of Vishnu Irigireddy – Obituary

Authorities have identified 48-year-old Vishnu Irigireddy of Renton as one of three climbers who lost their lives during a tragic rappelling accident near North Early Winters Spire in the North Cascades on May 10. The incident occurred in a steep gully west of Mazama, Washington, along State Route 20, a popular spot for climbers due to its rugged granite formations.

According to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, the climbers were descending the gully when an anchor reportedly failed during their rappelling maneuver, causing all four to fall. Rappelling involves descending a vertical surface using ropes anchored at the top, and a failure in this setup can be catastrophic.

Among those who perished were Vishnu Irigireddy, 63-year-old Tim Nguyen of Renton, and 36-year-old Oleksander Martynenko of Bellevue. The sole survivor, 38-year-old Anton Tselykh from Seattle, managed to climb out and seek help. He was later taken to Harborview Medical Center, though his current condition is unknown.

The time of death for the three climbers was recorded around 6:30 p.m. The bodies were recovered with the help of the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team. Authorities are continuing to investigate the details surrounding the fatal fall.