The body of a 44-year-old Wyoming man was recovered from Quandary Peak in Summit County last night after he collapsed during his ascent of the mountain, authorities say.
Rescuers brought the body down from the peak at 7:45 p.m., according to Anna DeBattiste, spokeswoman for the Summit County Rescue Group.
Authorities identified the hiker as Kevin Joseph Gill of Cheyenne, Wyo. Gill was co-owner of the Gill Window Co. An investigation is planned into his death.
Gill apparently collapsed during his ascent just below the summit at an elevation of about 14,000 feet, DeBattiste said.
The man’s hiking companions attempted CPR around 11:30 a.m. and called rescuers.
A Flight for Life helicopter from Colorado Springs flew a wilderness paramedic and three other rescuers to a spot around 13,000 feet in elevation.
Another 23 rescuers from four different area mountain rescue teams responded on foot.
Rescuers carried the litter bearing the hiker for the first 1,000 feet and then loaded it into a one-wheeled litter carrier.
This was the Summit County Rescue Group’s seventh mission on Quandary Peak in 2009.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
