Family members of the Limerick man who is believed to have died while descending K2 are to travel to Pakistan next week to meet with the leader of the expedition.

37 year old Gerard McDonnell is thought to be among 11 people from several teams killed on Saturday while descending the mountain, on the border between China and Pakistan.

His brother and girlfriend are making the trip to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, next week.

Details of when or where the meeting will take place have yet to be finalised but it is thought they will fly out within a week and spend just two or three days there.

Preparations for a memorial service for McDonnell's family and friends, whose body is not expected to be found, are under way.