Hi there WAB.
I'm sorry but i can't understand your last post. It's accepted that the rescue team damaged the tent because it was covered in very hard ice.
Dear Nigel Evans I should apologise, I have not so well written that text. I was hurried up.
Here is how to me it have told at various times Boris Slobtsov and Michael Sharavin, everyone separately (it is short sample with conclusions):
They have approached to this place where there was a tent only below it on 20 … 30 m (60 … 90 ft) and on distance about 100 m (300 ft). There they have removed skis and rose on more abrupt slope directly to tent. They did not have anything with itself except the field-glass. When they have seen (have proved to be true) that it is tent it was necessary to look that is inside. Which they have seen a unique subject also which could help to dig it snow was ice axe. Usually it put that it would hold a tent rope. They took ice axe and have started to rake a flute on tent. Sharavin said that probably then they and have damaged a tent roof. Snow was firm, but not such that it would be necessary to cut it only. Simply they used that unique subject which was a number and to which could do it.
About that snow there such, what to cut it is not necessary, and it is necessary to work only as a firm subject we were convinced when 4 times went on pass in the winter.
In addition both of them spoke (everyone) that they very much were afraid to find there dead bodies. It is clear that any person of it is afraid, when it had no contact to a dead body. Therefore they not so well supervised the actions. Also could not remember all precisely and in detail.
To them did not give exact instructions as it is necessary to do it, and more precisely to tell, did it very quickly and not in detail. They were the very first group which has gone on searches and all very strongly hurried up them to send.
PS. It on I have on other theme, but I have not enough time. I have prepared to you a note occasionally with climbers on Сaucasus in 1978. There they have got to contact to a fireball. But I should have more time, what it to write shortly.