Nepali Sherpa guide Dawa Sherpa has been found alive on Mount Everest after six days missing. The 50-year-old guide, nicknamed 'Hillary' after Edmund Hillary, was last seen on May 29 descending the mountain from Camp Four. He was found crawling towards Base Camp by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee on Thursday morning.
Dawa Sherpa's survival is a rare positive outcome in a season marked by tragedy on the mountain. At least five people have died this season on Mount Everest, including two Indians and three Nepali climbers. Over 1,000 climbers reached the summit of Everest this season, making it the busiest season on record.
Dawa Sherpa was taken to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment of frostbite and other injuries. His client, Chris Thrall, had continued descending after Dawa Sherpa stopped to rest on May 30. The exact circumstances of his disappearance and the extent of his injuries are not fully clear.
Dawa Sherpa's family, including his wife and daughter, were affected by his disappearance and are now relieved by his rescue. The incident highlights the risks faced by climbers and guides on Mount Everest and the need for effective safety measures. As he receives medical treatment, questions remain about how he survived for six days on Mount Everest without food or oxygen, and what safety measures are in place to protect climbers and guides.
The implications of this incident for the climbing community and for the management of the mountain are still to be determined. Dawa Sherpa's rescue will likely prompt a review of safety protocols on Mount Everest, and his story will serve as a reminder of the risks and challenges faced by climbers and guides on the world's highest mountain.