Australian and Canadian die attempting to climb world’s second highest mountain

An Australian Mountaineer and Canadian climber have both died while attempting to climb the world’s second highest mountain

The bodies of Matthew Eakin from Sydney and Richard Cartier from Quebec were found after the pair vanished while scaling the K2.

The Himalayan Times says the deaths were confirmed by a source at the mountain’s base camp.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs has now also confirmed the fatalities.

In a statement, DFAT says:

‘Consular assistance is being provided to the family of an Australian man who died during a climbing accident in northern Pakistan… we extend our condolences to the man’s family and friends’.

Nearly 90 people have died while trying to scale the treacherous K2 since 1954.

The mountain is located on the border of Pakistan and China.