At a Glance
- Shafiq Noorani, 52, fell several hundred feet from Citadel Peak on Dec. 31 while climbing with a partner
- The Alpine Rescue Team recovered his body after a helicopter lowered two volunteers to the site
- Noorani died from blunt force trauma, according to the Clear Creek County coroner
- Why it matters: The tragedy highlights the risks even experienced climbers face in Colorado’s backcountry
An experienced climber who died after falling hundreds of feet from a Colorado peak on New Year’s Eve is being remembered by his family as a compassionate man who lived to serve others.
Shafiq Noorani, 52, was climbing Citadel Peak with a partner on Dec. 31 when he fell from a ridge, according to the Alpine Rescue Team (ART), a volunteer organization that responds to backcountry emergencies.
The Fatal Fall
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. when Noorani’s climbing partner called 911, reporting she had watched him fall several hundred feet into the basin below while she clung to the rock face, the Brighton Blade reported.
Steve Wilson, public information officer for ART, told the paper that the climbers appeared experienced and well-equipped for their route.
“The two did seem to be experienced and well-equipped climbers and were not on an unreasonable route for their experience and equipment,” Wilson said.
However, the exact circumstances of the fall remain unknown.
“While there is still more to investigate, the exact nature of the fall is not known, and it’s unlikely that it will ever be,” Wilson added.
Rescue Operation
After receiving the distress call, ART deployed a helicopter to the scene. Two rescue volunteers were lowered to recover Noorani’s body, while another volunteer reached the stranded climbing partner.
The woman was stuck on a ridge between 12,800 and 13,000 feet elevation, according to ART. She was safely brought down the mountain.
Chris Hegmann, Clear Creek County Coroner, confirmed to the Brighton Blade that Noorani died from blunt force trauma sustained in the fall.
A Life of Service
Noorani’s younger brother Husein described him as someone who traveled the world not just to see it, but to serve it.
Speaking with USA Today, Husein said his brother supported a school in Nepal, bought new desks for a school in Moshi, Tanzania, and sponsored students internationally.
“He was the kinda guy who picked up trash on trails,” Husein noted. “He believed in leaving places (and people) better than he found them.”
Growing up in Aurora after his family moved from Tanzania when he was 5, Noorani was active in Scouting America and enjoyed camping and fishing.
Name That Defined Him
Husein told the Brighton Blade that his brother’s name perfectly captured his essence.
“My brother Shafiq, whose name translates to friend, compassionate, kind, and gentle-hearted, truly embodied those qualities in how he loved, listened, and moved through the world,” he said.
A funeral was held for Noorani in Chicago, his childhood home after immigrating from Tanzania. A celebration of life is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18 in Denver, with another memorial planned in Chicago this spring.
The Alpine Rescue Team continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal fall, though officials acknowledge they may never determine exactly what caused Noorani to lose his footing on the ridge.
