They turned back short of the summit because of safety concerns, but their timing was unlucky. Dahlmeier was rappelling when a big rock fatally struck her.

Ms. Dahlmeier, 31, an experienced mountaineer, was climbing in Pakistan when she was hit by falling rocks, officials said.

German Olympic gold medalist and world champion biathlete Laura Dahlmeier has died following a tragic climbing accident in the Karakoram mountain range of northern Pakistan, her management team and local officials confirmed. Dahlmeier, 31, was ascending Laila Peak on Monday when she was struck by falling rocks.