Sherpa Found Alive on Mount Everest After Six Days Missing

A dramatic rescue unfolded on Mount Everest as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, a Nepali guide, was found alive six days after disappearing. He was discovered by a cleanup group near Base Camp on Thursday, reportedly making his way down the world's highest peak.

Sherpa had been missing since Saturday, and fears for his life were mounting. His survival is attributed to his own efforts to descend, though he was found suffering from frostbite. He has since been airlifted to a hospital in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, for medical attention.

His wife, Damu Sherpa, expressed immense relief and joy, revealing that the family had lost hope and had begun funeral rites. "We had given up hope. Yesterday we started to pray puja (a prayer for the dead)," she told reporters, highlighting the emotional toll of his prolonged absence.

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I have spoken with the doctors. He has some frostbite, but otherwise seems to be doing well.

Sherpa went missing on May 30th after assisting climber Chris Thrall to the summit the previous evening. Thrall recounted on Instagram that Sherpa had asked him to proceed while he took a break. Thrall then encountered a fellow climber in distress due to oxygen deprivation and frostbite. Prioritizing the rescue of this climber, Thrall descended, only realizing the potential danger to Sherpa after an 11-hour trek back to camp, at which point he raised the alarm.

The Everest climbing season is nearing its end, having seen a record number of over 1,000 successful summit ascents this year. Tragically, five individuals have lost their lives during the season.

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We had given up hope. Yesterday we started to pray puja (a prayer for the dead).