# Vanja Matijevec Sacrificed Summit for Three Lives

> Slovenian climber Vanja Matijevec abandoned his Everest summit to save three stranded climbers in 1979.
- Title: Vanja Matijevec Sacrificed Summit for Three Lives · Climbing
- Summary: Slovenian climber Vanja Matijevec abandoned his Everest summit to save three stranded climbers in 1979. Slovenian climber Vanja Matijevec gave up his Everest…
- Keywords: vanja matijevec, everest, slovenia, climbing, 1979, summit, rescue, sports, travel, Vanja, Matijevec, Sacrificed
- Source: Climbing — https://climbing.com/community/vanja-matijevec
- Author: Ryleigh Norgrove
- Published: 2026-10-28T00:58:20+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: vanja matijevec, everest, slovenia, climbing, 1979, summit, rescue, sports, travel
## Vanja Matijevec's 1979 Everest Attempt
Slovenian climber Vanja Matijevec gave up his summit plan to save three stranded climbers above 8,000 meters during his 1979 Everest expedition.

> he later remembered Matijevec’s selflessness as helping him survive after he lost a crampon high on the mountain
## Matijevec's Selfless Rescue
Matijevec rescued Stipe Božić, Stane Belak and Ang Phu who were stranded above 8,000 meters during their descent from Everest.
## Matijevec's Legacy
Fellow Slovenian climber Viki Grošelj described Matijevec as 'the right man in the right place' after his death on March 3.

> the right man in the right place
## Key takeaway

Slovenian climber Vanja Matijevec gave up his Everest summit attempt in 1979 to rescue Stipe Božić, Stane Belak and Ang Phu who were stranded above 8,000 meters.