Sherpa survives 6-day Everest ordeal, crawls down 12km from 25k feet sans food, oxygen

In a remarkable feat of survival, 52-year-old Sherpa guide Dawa Sherpa has been found alive after vanishing on Mount Everest and being presumed dead for six days. Climbers are hailing his recovery as a miracle after he was discovered near Base Camp on Thursday morning.

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RIP... mero dai

Dawa, nicknamed 'Hillary' for his mountaineering prowess, undertook an astonishing journey, covering over 12 kilometers from an altitude of 25,000 feet down to 17,000 feet. He accomplished this feat in challenging weather conditions, without food, water, or supplemental oxygen. Critically, he navigated the perilous Khumbu Icefall after the official climbing season had concluded, meaning ropes and ladders had been removed from the route.

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Hillary, are you OK brother?

His family had already begun preparations for his last rites when they received news of his survival. Dawa reportedly survived by scavenging for food and oxygen from abandoned tents. He was last seen on May 29, descending after summiting Everest with a group that included British climber Chris Thrall.

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Yes, yes, I’m fine, Chris. Please go.

Thrall recounted seeing Dawa resting before continuing his descent, stating he checked on the Sherpa and received an assurance that he was fine. Thrall later reported Dawa missing after reaching lower camps, having prioritized assisting another climber from his group who was suffering from frostbite and low oxygen. Dawa was eventually spotted by a cleanup crew and airlifted to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, where he is receiving intensive care for frostbite and other complications but is reported to be out of danger.

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He is in intensive care, but out of danger.