Oslo - The remains of a Norwegian climber who was killed on the K2 mountain in the Himalayas should stay on the mountain slopes, his father said in an interview published Monday.

Rolf Bae's family said it was "difficult" to know that his remains would stay on the mountain but said they did not want other people to risk their lives to find the body.

"We have talked a lot about this. We don't want other people to put themselves in danger to try to find him. Rolf is gone, no matter what we do," Jakob Bae told the Stavanger Aftenbladet newspaper.

The 33-year-old climber was heading back to Camp 4 at 8,000 metres together with other Norwegians when he was swept away Friday by an icy avalanche on the mountain at 8,100 metres, a spokesman for Bae's expedition said in a news release distributed to Norwegian media on Sunday.

Bae is one of several climbers reported missing and feared dead on K2. His wife managed to reach a base camp on K2.

Jakob Bae said he had been in touch with his son's wife who witnessed the avalanche that claimed Rolf Bae's life. He said that climbing and outdoor life was his son's passion, adding that a memorial service will likely be held when the son's widow returns to Norway.

Several expeditions were affected when a big chunk of ice fell from the mountain at a height of 8,211 metres, taking a large number of fixed ropes with it. (dpa)