French mountaineer dies near summit of Mount Aconcagua

A French mountaineer died on Monday near the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas and in the Southern Hemisphere, in Mendoza province. Guillaume Ferey, 33, collapsed and died at “La Cueva,” a spot located about 200 meters from the summit, at an altitude of 6,700 meters.   The guide accompanying Ferey alerted authorities when he noticed he had lost consciousness, but rescuers were unable to save him. According to the Heralds sister news site Minutouno.com, the Rescue Patrol and the Condor Service, the medical team that treats climbers in trouble on the mountain, performed CPR but werent able to save Ferey.  Specialized rescue personnel arrived at 12:50 p.m. and confirmed the death at the scene. The death was later confirmed by a doctor, Mendozas Security Ministry said to La Nacin newspaper. Following confirmation, a case was opened in the Mendoza courts and assigned to the prosecutor on duty, Ricardo Iturbide, who ordered the removal of the body.  Second death on Aconcagua This is the second death on Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Andes Mountains, in 2026.  The first occurred on January 4, when a 55-year-old Russian mountaineer died, also just meters from the summit.  The current 2025-2026 climbing season began on November 1 and finishes mid-February. According to official figures, more than 55,000 people visited Aconcagua Provincial Park last season. During that period, some 190 rescues and two deaths were recorded.