At high camp, the famed Viento Blanco (white wind) caused all climbing teams at height to attempt an evacuation.

[8][9] One of Agnew's fellow team members experienced life-threatening High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), needing immediate evacuation down the mountain and subsequently airlifted to Mendoza hospital.

Agnew was left to lead the remaining team member's survival throughout a deadly night (including a tent fire and a death close by) at high camp.

Agnew is a three diamond badged pilot (Dec 1992)[13] who has achieved the Australian altitude record in a glider when he reached 10,000 m (33,000 ft) in 1995.

[16] Agnew is the winner of the Gliding Federation of Australia's annual Martin Warner Trophy,[17] for highest height gain, winning 17 times in the last twenty years.