American climber's mummified body found in Peruvian andes after 22 years

In the Peruvian Andes, the body of an American mountaineer who died in 2002 while attempting to reach the summit of Huascarán in the western part of the country was discovered, Peruvian police reported on Tuesday.

The remains of the man, who died 22 years ago due to being buried by a snow avalanche, were found in a mummified state. According to the police services in Peru, the low temperatures at an altitude of approximately 17,000 feet above sea level helped preserve the body.

Local media reported that, after receiving a signal from one of the mountaineers, a police rescue team went on Monday to the mountain at approximately 22,000 feet above sea level. There, they found the man's well-preserved body and climbing equipment.

Peruvian news agency Andina reported that police found an American driver's license in the man's jacket. The document was issued in the name of William Stempel from California.

The tragic accident in which the man died occurred in June 2002. At that time, he was attempting to reach the summit of Huascarán with two companions. Unfortunately, all members of the expedition perished, buried by the avalanche. Two years after the tragedy, the body of one of the victims was found.

The body of the third mountaineer has yet to be found. Peruvian police claim that the terrain, full of crevasses where the avalanche descended, complicates the search.