Article Highlights:

  • A Canadian woman’s K2 and Gondogoro La Trek turned into a medical emergency at 12,580 feet due to severe altitude illness.
  • Jody Madsen suffered symptoms of HAPE and possibly HACE, including headache, coughing blood, extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing.
  • Her call for help to Global Rescue triggered a rapid-response helicopter evacuation from Khoburtse Camp.
  • After oxygen therapy and hospital treatment, Madsen made a full recovery thanks to quick coordination and medical support.
  • The experience strengthened the Madsens’ relationship and underscored the value of having a Global Rescue membership.

 

For many climbers, K2 represents the ultimate test of endurance, grit and human will. Rising more than 28,000 feet above sea level, the world’s second-highest mountain is as awe-inspiring as it is unforgiving. For Jody Madsen, an adventurer in her 50s from Foothills, Canada, the challenge of trekking near K2 promised the experience of a lifetime—until altitude sickness became a serious medical emergency.

“I do a lot of hiking here in Kananaskis and in the national parks, and I absolutely love it,” Madsen said. “My group was planning a trip to K2 and Gondogoro La and I thought it would be the experience of a lifetime. I wanted the challenge—I thought it would be phenomenal.”

But what began as a thrilling climb quickly turned into a desperate fight for survival.

 

The Descent into Altitude Sickness

At Khoburtse Camp, 12,580 feet (3,835 meters) above sea level, Madsen started to feel unwell. What began as mild discomfort escalated rapidly. Despite taking altitude medication, her symptoms worsened: a pounding headache, relentless nausea, fatigue, a wet cough with blood and severe shortness of breath.

Her condition was consistent with High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and possible High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)—two life-threatening complications of altitude sickness.

“I was starting to feel the altitude at that point,” said Madsen. “I was taking my altitude medication, but it really wasn’t helping much.”

Back home in Canada, her husband Gary Madsen grew increasingly uneasy. “I had this general concern—what happens if something goes wrong? Normally, when we travel, if something comes up, I’m there and can handle it. But this time, I was too far away,” he said.

They had been communicating regularly—texting morning and night despite the eleven-hour time difference. That constant connection brought Gary some comfort. But as Jody’s condition deteriorated, the situation became urgent.

 

The SOS from K2

The Trek started from Skardu with a daylong jeep ride to the first camp.

“There were three more days of trekking after that,” Gary recalled. “Each day Jody mentioned she wasn’t feeling very well” “On the third evening, she called in and said, ‘I’m sick. Really sick. I have to get out of here.’”

Jody sent Gary a chilling message: “I have to get out of here. I’m not well. I’m getting sicker and I can’t breathe.”

Her lungs were filled with fluid. She couldn’t lie down. Every breath was a struggle. Jody reached out through her InReach device and contacted Global Rescue directly:

“I need your help. I’m very unwell. I can’t breathe. I’m nauseated. I have a terrible headache. I can’t continue. I need a helicopter as soon as possible.”

Within moments, Global Rescue’s operations team responded, coordinating with local partners to launch a helicopter rescue mission.

 

 

The Dragonfly in the Sky

“I could hear it faintly. Then suddenly, I saw this little dragonfly in the sky—it was the helicopter,” Jody said. “My heart just lifted, and I started to cry.”

For Jody, that sound was the difference between rescue and medical uncertainty. “Once I got on the helicopter, they gave me oxygen and that really helped,” she said. “They went straight to the hospital, took my vitals and I spoke with the doctor immediately.”

From Khoburtse Camp, she was flown to Skardu Airport, then taken by ground transport to a medical facility for evaluation and treatment. After being stabilized with medication and oxygen, she made a full recovery and was released without complications.

 

A Life-Saving Partnership

In those critical hours, Global Rescue’s coordination and communication were vital.

“You guys were amazing — initiating the rescue, sending messages, asking how I felt, reminding me to stay hydrated, even offering to have your doctors review my diagnosis,” said Jody.

Gary echoed the sentiment: “I remember thinking, ‘Thank God we picked Global Rescue.’ We’d looked through and vetted several options, trying to decide who we wanted to trust with our safety. And we definitely made the right choice. You have your way of getting things done—and it got done.”

 

Perspective at 15,000 Feet

Once the crisis had passed, the Madsens found a new perspective in their ordeal.

“It was pretty much one of the worst days of her life,” Gary reflected. “She didn’t know if she was going to live. And of course, I had been worried about a lot of the stuff she was experiencing prior to going over there. We talked about it for months. Is this something we wanted to do? She felt she could do it physically. But it’s the altitude sickness and the heat that got her.”

In the aftermath, the experience became more than a survival story—it was a wake-up call about priorities, resilience and love.

“It’s been a real reset,” Gary said. “We’ve been together for 23 years. Our relationship was strong. But this really reset the dial as far as what’s important—what really matters in the moments when you have to decide things and what the priority should be. That trip was expensive, and it took away from our travel money for nicer trips together. But this was worth every penny for the experience and what it’s done for our relationship.”

“I’ll Recommend Global Rescue to Everyone”

Jody’s message to fellow climbers and trekkers is clear: altitude sickness doesn’t discriminate.

“I had no idea I’d get altitude sickness. I’ve never been at those elevations, so you just don’t know how your body will react,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to need Global Rescue; I just thought it was a good backup. But now, I’ll absolutely recommend Global Rescue to everyone who does anything like this. It was a bad experience that turned out well—and that’s because of you and Global Rescue.”

 

The Global Rescue Connection

Every year, hundreds of climbers and trekkers face emergencies at high altitudes where oxygen is scarce, and medical care is distant. When High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) strikes, minutes matter.

Jody Madsen’s rescue near K2 demonstrates why Global Rescue memberships are essential for climbers, trekkers and adventurers who travel to remote areas. From coordinating helicopter rescues and medical evacuations to providing real-time medical advisory services, Global Rescue ensures members are never truly alone—even in the world’s most isolated regions.

In past Global Rescue stories—from evacuations on Kilimanjaro to rescues in the Andes—the common thread is preparedness and the peace of mind that comes with expert support when the unexpected happens.

Adventures will always carry risks. But with Global Rescue, travelers can pursue their passions knowing that help is only a call—or an InReach message—away.