A 14-year-old boy has died of hypothermia after attempting to climb the dormant Iztaccíhuatl volcano in Mexico alone and without equipment or guidance.
Paolo Sánchez Carrasco was last seen three days before rescue teams discovered his body at an altitude of approximately 4,780 meters. Iztaccíhuatl, Mexico’s third-highest peak, rises to 5,230 meters and is known for its steep, icy slopes and technically challenging terrain.
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In a final video posted to social media, the teenager is heard saying, “It turns out that up here the temperature drops to -2 degrees at night. And the worst thing is… I’m going to freeze. I didn’t even bring a sleeping bag, and I’m far from the shelter. The next one is over there, but it’s on the other side of the mountain.”
Experts warn that climbing Iztaccíhuatl requires full preparation, including thermal clothing, gloves, specialized boots, and camping equipment, as conditions can change rapidly and dramatically.
Carrasco’s tragic death comes just weeks after another fatal incident involving a young hiker. In June, 26-year-old Brazilian climber Juliana Martins fell over 500 meters while hiking along the crater rim of Mount Rinjani, a volcano in Indonesia.
