Climbing Guide Miraculously Discovered Alive on Everest After Being Lost for Almost a Week
A Nepali mountaineering guide, previously believed to have perished on Mount Everest, was shockingly discovered making his way down to Base Camp, six days after he was last spotted alive.
The guide, Dawa Sherpa, was last seen near Camp 3, an elevation of around 7,500m (24,600ft), while making his descent from the peak of the world's tallest mountain. Given the harsh conditions at such a high altitude, many believed his chances of survival to be slim.
A Miraculous Discovery
However, in a twist of events, a cleanup team on the mountain spotted him on Thursday. Despite suffering from frostbite on his hands, the seasoned climber seemed to be in relatively good health and was found slowly progressing downhill.
"Dawa's survival against all odds for such a long duration is nothing short of a miracle," commented Pemba Sherpa, the executive director of a high-altitude expedition company that was involved in the search efforts. "His story is one of true self-rescue."
Unfortunately, not all have been as fortunate this climbing season. Five people have lost their lives, three of whom were Nepalis involved in the preparations for the Everest climb.
A Remarkable Survival Story
Dawa Sherpa, also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, named after legendary mountaineer Edmund Hillary, was found "slowly sliding through" the Khumbu Icefall towards Base Camp when he was discovered. "To my knowledge, no one has ever survived alone at that altitude on Everest. His survival for six days alone and safe descent is truly miraculous. I believe he must have taken shelter inside tents to stay safe," speculated Pemba Sherpa.
When his daughter Mhendo Lhamo Sherpa visited him, she was relieved to find him alert and able to communicate. "He recognized me … is good and speaks," she shared. "We are overjoyed."
Overcoming the Odds
Before his surprising discovery, Dawa Sherpa's wife had performed last rite prayers for his soul, believing him to have passed away. Chris Thrall, a fellow climber and former British Royal Marine, had also paid tribute to Dawa Sherpa, mistakenly thinking he had lost his life on the mountain.
In a video, Thrall remembered Dawa Sherpa taking a rest with his backpack during their descent from Camp 4, the highest campsite before the summit. "I asked, 'Hillary, are you okay, brother?' He replied, 'Yes, yes, fine Chris, please go, go!'" Thrall recalled. "This was nothing unusual, you know, one would go ahead, then the other."
As Thrall continued his descent, he encountered a struggling Polish climber from their group and they descended together. However, Dawa Sherpa never caught up with them.
"Our summit push had been long and arduous. What should have been a five-day journey to the summit and back took us 11 days due to tough conditions," Thrall shared. "So, do I go back for Sherpa, who's probably going to show up and be fine, as he has done hundreds of times before?" Thrall pondered.
A Nepali mountaineering guide, previously believed to have perished on Mount Everest, was shockingly discovered making his way down to Base Camp, six days after he was last spotted alive.
The guide, Dawa Sherpa, was last seen near Camp 3, an elevation of around 7,500m (24,600ft), while making his descent from the peak of the world's tallest mountain. Given the harsh conditions at such a high altitude, many believed his chances of survival to be slim.
A Miraculous Discovery
However, in a twist of events, a cleanup team on the mountain spotted him on Thursday. Despite suffering from frostbite on his hands, the seasoned climber seemed to be in relatively good health and was found slowly progressing downhill.
"Dawa's survival against all odds for such a long duration is nothing short of a miracle," commented Pemba Sherpa, the executive director of a high-altitude expedition company that was involved in the search efforts. "His story is one of true self-rescue."
Unfortunately, not all have been as fortunate this climbing season. Five people have lost their lives, three of whom were Nepalis involved in the preparations for the Everest climb.
A Remarkable Survival Story
Dawa Sherpa, also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, named after legendary mountaineer Edmund Hillary, was found "slowly sliding through" the Khumbu Icefall towards Base Camp when he was discovered. "To my knowledge, no one has ever survived alone at that altitude on Everest. His survival for six days alone and safe descent is truly miraculous. I believe he must have taken shelter inside tents to stay safe," speculated Pemba Sherpa.
When his daughter Mhendo Lhamo Sherpa visited him, she was relieved to find him alert and able to communicate. "He recognized me … is good and speaks," she shared. "We are overjoyed."
Overcoming the Odds
Before his surprising discovery, Dawa Sherpa's wife had performed last rite prayers for his soul, believing him to have passed away. Chris Thrall, a fellow climber and former British Royal Marine, had also paid tribute to Dawa Sherpa, mistakenly thinking he had lost his life on the mountain.
In a video, Thrall remembered Dawa Sherpa taking a rest with his backpack during their descent from Camp 4, the highest campsite before the summit. "I asked, 'Hillary, are you okay, brother?' He replied, 'Yes, yes, fine Chris, please go, go!'" Thrall recalled. "This was nothing unusual, you know, one would go ahead, then the other."
As Thrall continued his descent, he encountered a struggling Polish climber from their group and they descended together. However, Dawa Sherpa never caught up with them.
"Our summit push had been long and arduous. What should have been a five-day journey to the summit and back took us 11 days due to tough conditions," Thrall shared. "So, do I go back for Sherpa, who's probably going to show up and be fine, as he has done hundreds of times before?" Thrall pondered.