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Indonesian dies on Alaskan peak
Lilian Budianto , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 07/10/2008 10:13 AM | Headlines
Adventure always involves a risk. But that risk cannot stop people from seeking adventure.
One such adventurer was Pungkas Tri Baruno, an Indonesian youth who lost his life on Monday (Tuesday in Jakarta) after scaling Mount McKinley, North America's highest mountain.
The 20-year-old Jakartan had succeeded in planting the Indonesian flag at the peak of the mountain, which stands in the Denali National Park in the U.S. state of Alaska.
Pungkas, a member of the National Scouts Association, departed on a four-member expedition to McKinley last month.
His death was reported by officials from the Denali National Park and was confirmed by the Indonesian consulate general in San Francisco on Wednesday.
Pungkas died on Monday night (Tuesday in Jakarta) while descending from the top of McKinley, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said.
He collapsed about half a kilometer from the summit -- about 5,000 meters above sea level -- after complaining of a headache. Several hiking guides tried revive him, but it was already too late.
"The cause of death remains unknown," Faizasyah told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
"After being evacuated, his body will be taken to the nearest base camp, about two hours from the city of Anchorage, for a postmortem."
Faizasyah said evacuation efforts began Tuesday but were suspended because of bad weather. The evacuation attempt will be resumed Wednesday.
The Indonesian consulate general in Alaska will also assist in having the body sent home, he said.
Pungkas was the second person to die on the mountain in the past week and the fourth this season, Associated Press reported Wednesday.
On Friday, American James Nasti, 51, died on the mountain.
In late May, two climbers from Japan disappeared and are presumed dead.
Pungkas' death brings the number of people who have died on McKinley since 1932 to 102.
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