Miraculous Survival on Mount Everest
A Nepali climbing guide, Dawa Sherpa, who was presumed dead on Mount Everest, has been discovered crawling down to Base Camp six days after he was last seen alive. He was last observed above Camp 3, at approximately 7,500 meters (24,600 feet), while descending after reaching the summit.
Given the extreme altitude and thin air, hopes for his survival had been minimal. However, on Thursday, a cleaning crew encountered the seasoned climber slowly sliding down. Despite suffering frostbite on his hands, he appeared to be in relatively good health.
Statements from Expedition Officials
"Dawa managed to survive against all odds for days. It's nothing short of a miracle,"
said Pemba Sherpa, executive director of 8K Expeditions, which coordinated the search efforts."This is a true self-rescue."
So far this climbing season, five fatalities have been reported, including three Nepali individuals involved in Everest preparations, according to AFP news agency. This season has seen over 1,000 climbers reach the summit, marking it as the busiest on record.
Details of the Rescue and Condition
Dawa Sherpa, also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa in honor of renowned mountaineer Edmund Hillary, was found "slowly sliding through" the Khumbu Icefall toward Base Camp, according to Pemba Sherpa.
"As far as I know, no one has survived alone at that altitude on Everest so far. This is a miracle to have survived for six days alone and descended safe. I think he must have lived inside the tents to keep himself safe,"
added Pemba Sherpa.
Medical updates indicate that Dawa Sherpa is "awake and undergoing treatment," stated Nishant Dhakal, a physician in the intensive care unit at Kathmandu's HAMS Hospital.
His daughter, Mhendo Lhamo Sherpa, shared with after visiting him,
"He recognised me … is good and speaks. We are happy."
Prior to his discovery, the 52-year-old's wife had informed AFP that she had performed last rites prayers for his soul.
Eyewitness Account from Fellow Climber
On Wednesday, Chris Thrall, a climber and former British Royal Marine, posted a tribute on Instagram believing Dawa Sherpa had perished on the mountain.
In the video, Thrall recounted that Dawa Sherpa had paused to rest with his backpack while descending from Camp 4, the highest camp before the summit.
"And I turned and I said, 'Hillary, are you okay, brother?' He said, 'Yes, yes, fine Chris, please go, go!'"
Thrall said. "This is nothing new, you know, I'd go ahead, he'd go ahead."
As Thrall descended, he encountered a struggling Polish climber from their group, and they continued down together. However, Dawa Sherpa did not catch up with them.
"It had been a long summit push. What should have been five days to the summit and back took us 11 days, that's how challenging the conditions were,"
Thrall explained.
"So, do I go back for Sherpa, who's probably going to rock up and be fine, as he has done hundreds of times before?"
he added.
Search Efforts and Family Reactions
One relative, Kung Sherpa, expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the search in an interview with Outside, an adventure sports publication.
The search was eventually initiated by 8K Expeditions, which succeeded in airlifting Dawa Sherpa to safety.
