ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The last survivor of the deadliest mountaineering disaster ever to hit the world's second-highest peak was rescued by helicopter today, nearly five days after the tragedy, a Pakistani army spokesman said.

Italian Marco Confortola, three members of his support team, and a group of South Koreans were taken from K2's base camp to a nearby town, spokesman Maj. Farooq Feroz said.

As many as 30 mountaineers began their ascent of K2 on Friday. An avalanche swept some climbers away and left others stranded in frigid conditions just below the 28,250-foot summit. In all, 11 people died: three South Koreans, two Nepalis, two Pakistanis and mountaineers from France, Ireland, Serbia and Norway.

Fatal accidents are common on the treacherous peaks that attract top mountaineers to Pakistan each summer, but this is the deadliest single incident in memory, surpassing the seven climbers killed on K2 during a fierce storm in 1995.

K2, which straddles Pakistan and China in the Karakoram range, is regarded by mountaineers as far more challenging than Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. The mesmerizing giant pyramid of K2's knife-edged ridges and icy slopes are steeper and prone to both avalanches and sudden and severe storms.

Confortola, 37, was the last survivor to reach safety. He limped into base camp with frostbitten feet Tuesday, but thick clouds forced him to stay an extra night. Authorities took him to a military hospital.

Feroz said the 12 South Koreans already at the base camp requested to be airlifted down because they were having difficulty hiking.

"I am happy to be alive," Confortola told Everest-K2-CNR, an Italy-based high-altitude scientific research group, during a phone call from the camp at 17,000 feet.