A remarkable story of survival unfolded on Mount Everest as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, a 52-year-old climbing guide, was found alive after spending nearly a week on the mountain without food or bottled oxygen. The Sherpa, who was separated from his team and presumed dead, was discovered by a cleaning crew crawling back to Base Camp.

Miraculous Survival

Hillary Dawa was last seen on May 29 above Camp 3, resting at an altitude of 7,060 meters (23,163 feet). His family had already begun funeral rites, believing he had succumbed to the perilous conditions. However, on Thursday, members of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) spotted him near the Khumbu Icefall, exhausted and suffering from frostbite.

After being given food and water, Hillary Dawa was airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment. His survival has been described as nothing short of miraculous by the mountaineering community, with many expressing relief and joy for his family.

Questions Raised

The incident has raised questions about the safety measures for Sherpas and other Nepali workers on Everest. Despite the busy climbing season, with over 1,000 climbers summiting the south side, concerns about inexperienced operators and inadequate safety protocols persist.

British climber Chris Thrall, who was with Hillary Dawa before he went missing, shared his relief at the Sherpa’s survival. Thrall recounted the challenging conditions they faced, which extended their climb from five to eleven days. He made the difficult decision to assist another climber suffering from frostbite, leaving Hillary Dawa to descend alone.

Hillary Dawa later revealed that he had fallen into a crevasse near Camp 1 and spent two days trapped before freeing himself. His story highlights the dangers faced by those who guide climbers on the world’s tallest mountain.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.