Riga bids farewell to climber Inese Pučeka after Denali tragedy
On Wednesday, August 12, family and colleagues gathered at the Riga crematorium to say goodbye to alpinist Inese Pučeka, who died in May while climbing North America's highest peak, Denali. Her remains were brought home on August 10.
On Wednesday, August 12, family, relatives and others gathered at the Riga crematorium for a farewell ceremony for alpinist Inese Pučeka, who died in a tragic accident while climbing Denali in Alaska.
Who was Inese Pučeka
Inese Pučeka was a well-known figure in Latvian public life. She worked as an alpinist and climbing sports coach, created the podcast "Retinātā gaisā," produced the TV3 shows "Zilonis studijā" and "900 sekundes," hosted the Latvian State Forests podcast "Dabā gājējs," and was formerly a voice on "5 rīti" radio. She died at the age of 35.
Tragedy on Denali
On May 10, Pučeka set off on an expedition to Alaska with an eight-person team, aiming to reach the summit of Denali, North America's highest mountain at 6,190 metres. On May 28, as the team was descending without having reached the summit, a tragic accident occurred in which three climbers, including Pučeka, lost their lives.
Return home
Pučeka, along with two other climbers who died in the accident, Vija Olte and Renārs Kunigs-Salaks, was brought back to Latvia on August 10. On Wednesday, family, friends and colleagues gathered at the Riga crematorium to bid her a final farewell.
