NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Seattle, WA, May 15, 2025: In a tragic accident on May 11, 2025, Vishnu Irigireddy, a 48-year-old Seattle resident and vice president at Fluke Corporation, lost his life alongside two companions while descending North Early Winters Spire in Washington’s North Cascades. The group, comprising Irigireddy, Tim Nguyen, 63, and Oleksander Martynenko, 36, fell approximately 400 feet after a suspected anchor failure. A fourth climber, Anton Tselykh, 38, survived the fall and drove to a payphone to call for help.
The climbers were descending the Early Winters Spires when a piton anchor gave way, causing them to fall approximately 400 feet. Tselykh was rendered unconscious and suffered internal bleeding and head trauma. After regaining consciousness in the dark, he managed to disentangle himself, traverse rugged terrain using an ice tool, and drive 40 miles to call for help from a pay phone in Newhalem.
Authorities believe the climbing accident was caused by the failure of an old and weathered piton used as an anchor, leading to an initial fall of 200 feet followed by another 200 feet of tumbling. Experts noted that relying on a single piton, likely left by previous climbers, is uncommon and risky, especially given its age and potential instability.
Irigireddy was remembered as a respected leader at Fluke Corporation. Martynenko leaves behind a wife and son, who shared her grief and launched a fundraiser.
The Early Winters Spires, part of the Liberty Bell Group, are known for their challenging climbs and rugged terrain.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities examining the climbing gear and anchor point, which all four climbers were tethered to and which is suspected to have failed.
