A Nepali climbing guide who was feared dead on Mount Everest has been found alive six days after he was last seen descending from the summit, the BBC reported.
Dawa Sherpa, also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, was last spotted above Camp 3 at an altitude of about 7,500 metres while making his way down the world’s highest peak. Given the extreme conditions and thin air at that height, hopes of finding him alive had faded.
However, on Thursday, a mountain cleaning team discovered the experienced climber slowly making his way through the Khumbu Icefall towards Everest Base Camp. He was suffering from frostbite on his hands but was otherwise reported to be in stable condition.
“Dawa managed to survive against all odds for days. It’s nothing short of a miracle. This is a true self-rescue,” Pemba Sherpa, executive director of 8K Expeditions, which coordinated the search effort, told the BBC.
According to AFP, five people have died during this year’s Everest climbing season, including three Nepalis involved in expedition preparations. More than 1,000 climbers successfully reached the summit this season, making it the busiest Everest season on record.
