The two descents in photos

These are a selection of the best of the photos from the two descents made by the team.

RICK AND SANDY DESCEND FROM THE SUMMIT DOWN THE DIAMIR FACE 16-19 JULY

The Mazeno Ridge seen from the Diamir Face, taken by Sandy.

Sandy digging out a snow cave, taken at 18.55 on 16 July by Rick. This is for their 3rd night in a snow cave, now the 2nd night of the descent from the summit.

Rick descending the Diamir Face, taken by Sandy. Note how deep the snow is.

Sandy descending in Kinshofer Wall area. Taken by Rick, 14.45 on 18 July.

Rick and Sandy at Diamir Face base camp with the Pakistani rescue team sent in to meet them.

Sandy and Rick at Diamir Face base camp, where the Czech team is based. Morning of 19 July, after spending 18 days on the first ascent of Nanga Parbat via the Mazeno Ridge.

CATHY AND THE SHERPAS DESCEND NOT-THE-SCHELL-ROUTE 13-14 JULY

Where it started to go wrong…. descending the Schell route ridge in the mist, we’d missed the drop-off to the east and were being forced down into the cwm on the west.

We started at 10.00. At 22.00 that night Lhakpa Rangduk and I were still not out of the dangerous cwm. When he fell and twisted his ankle, we pitched the tent below the only point of safety we could see by head torch, a wall of rock, digging out a platform just wide enough for the tent right by the rock face.

Two avalanches came down the next morning, both this size, one at 05.00 when Lhakpa and I were still asleep, and another at 10.30 when we were down on the moraine with Nuru and Zarok. This photo is of the second one, the little x marks the site of our tent. Had one come down the previous afternoon, we’d all four have been killed.