Legendary Croatian Climber Found Dead 39 Years Later

One of Croatia’s most experienced alpinists, who went missing in 1974 after an avalanche on the Georgian Caucasus mountain Ushba, has been found 39 years later. The frozen body of Split-born Nenad Čulić was found by Georgian Mountain Rescue Services three days ago.

Nenad Čulić (left) Viktor Tabaković (right) foto: Croatian Mountain Rescue Service

Čulić and a group of 15 Croatian climbers set off in on an expedition 39 years ago. After successfully reaching the peak of two mountains, four members of the group (Ante Bedalov, Urso Vrdoljak, Viktor Tabaković and Čulić) were hit by an avalanche – killing all four. The bodies of Vrdoljak and Bedalov were found immediately after the event, with Tabaković’s body found in 2012. Čulić, who was 25-years-old at the time of his death, was an instructor and head of the Croatian Mountian Rescue Team, GSS, and a member of the first Croatian alpine expeditions and conqueror of numerous difficult rocks and peaks. Čulić’s body will be transferred to Split, Croatia where he will be buried.