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The son of a mountaineer abandoned at 22,000ft has declared she remains "still alive" following rescuers calling off their search, as he desperately appeals for a fresh rescue mission to be launched.

Natalia Nagovitsina, 47, became stranded in brutal -28C overnight conditions after fracturing her leg whilst ascending Victory Peak in Kyrgyzstan on August 12.

A catastrophic rescue attempt subsequently unfolded, resulting in a fellow climber perishing from frostbite and a military helicopter later crashing into the mountainside, compelling the rescue team to retreat. The news comes as the last man to see Jay Slater alive makes return to Airbnb he disappeared from.

On Friday, Kyrgyz authorities declared the search for Natalia had been abandoned after discovering 'no signs of life'.

However, Natalia's son, Mikhail Nagovitsin, 27, maintains his belief that his mother remains alive - and has urged Russian authorities to mount their own rescue operation, reports Mirror.

Speaking to journalists in his homeland, he implored: "I request that the search be resumed."

Hopes were ignited

He expressed astonishment that rescue efforts had been "completely suspended" by the Kyrgyz authorities.

"My mother is an experienced climber... and is also in very good shape," he stated.

"I am sure that she is alive and want the search to be resumed."

Last Tuesday, hopes were ignited when drone footage seemed to show Natalia still alive a week after she was left stranded. Mikhail is now calling for another drone flight to check for signs of life.

"In the video I received, it is clearly visible that seven days after losing contact, she is actively waving her hand, full of strength," he stated.

He made an urgent plea to Vladimir Putin's government: "I ask for assistance in organising aerial video shooting of the Peak Pobeda area using drones to confirm the fact that she is alive. If this fact is confirmed, then organise a rescue operation."

Father died in similar circumstances

Four years ago, Mikhail's father Sergei tragically died at a similar altitude on another mountain in Kyrgyzstan after suffering a stroke during a climb. Natalia hit the headlines at the time for defying orders to leave him and stayed with him through a blizzard, stating she was not afraid of dying.

She miraculously survived after spending days comforting him on the mountain, but was unable to save his life. There had been speculation that clearer conditions on Monday would allow for a new drone flight to the so-called "death zone", where temperatures dropped to -30C over the weekend.

However, rescuers reported that the weather had not improved, and a drone flight was not carried out. A light rescue helicopter and its Italian crew eventually left the area, and officials announced her body would be recovered next spring.

Mikhail said: "They continued to wait for a weather window - but this morning, the entire rescue operation was disbanded, and the reason is unknown. It alarms me."

However, Ilim Karypbekov, vice president of the Kyrgyz Mountaineering Federation, justified ending the rescue mission.

He said: "Professional pilots flew in from Italy. But when they flew to the area by helicopter, the weather was not favourable."

Rescur called off

He continued: "Before that, they invited a drone pilot who was ordered to probe the area, but it was not possible. And the forecast said that in the coming week, five or six days, the weather would not be stable enough to fly a helicopter, let alone a drone.

"So they called it off. They saw that there was no point in waiting that long. No one could survive that long. They decided that it was pointless to wait any longer. In the end, it became clear that they would only be able to reach Natalia next season."

The final attempt to reach her was called off on Friday owing to the dreadful conditions, just 3,600ft beneath the location where she was last spotted.

Three days after she vanished, Italian mountaineer Luca Sinigaglia, 49, delivered Natalia a tent, sleeping bag, food, water and a gas cooker in an effort to keep her alive and organise a rescue.

He tragically perished on his own descent after developing frostbite. Tragically, on 17 August, a military Mi-8 helicopter crashed during the rescue operation, injuring those who were attempting to save her.

One climber did manage to reach Natalia, but was unable to bring her down.

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