Olympic Gold Medalist Seriously Injured in Mountaineering Accident

A massive rescue operation is underway in Pakistan, where two-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier was seriously injured after a rockslide during a harrowing climbing expedition with her partner.

According to multiple reports, the Olympic biathlon from Germany was scaling Pakistan's Karakorum mountains with her partner, Marina Eva, when Dahlmeier, 31, was struck from falling rocks during a devastating rockslide.

The exact severity of her injuries remain clear, but officials say she's, at the very least, seriously injured amid the rockslide in a remote part of Pakistan. Reports say Eva called authorities to report the accident that occurred on Monday. 

“Laura Dahlmeier was climbing with her mountaineering partner on 28 July when she was caught in a rockfall. The accident took place around noon local time at an altitude of approximately 5,700 metres,” Dahlmeier's management team said in a statement to German broadcaster ZDF. “Her partner immediately called emergency services, and a rescue operation began immediately. Due to the remoteness of the area, a helicopter was only able to reach the site of the accident on the morning of 29 July."

Related: Olympic Medalist Skier Killed by Lightning Strike

Amid the rubble, government officials say there is "no sign of life." After finally being able to reach the area Tuesday morning, search and rescue teams were forced to suspend the operation due to darkness. The operation will resume Wednesday.

The international rescue effort has since helped Dahlmeier's partner descend the mountain with the help of other climbers. According to Reuters, the area has been ravaged by heavy flooding and landslides, killing several local tourists during the current monsoon spell of rains.

Dahlmeier, who retired in 2019, won two Olympic biathlon gold medals at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea. She also scored a bronze medal. She also has seven gold medals to her name at the World Championships.