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Miraculous survival on Mt Everest: Missing Dawa Sherpa found alive after a week, rescued by SPCC team
KATHMANDU: A Sherpa climber who went missing on Mt Everest on May 29 has been found alive this morning.
A garbage management team from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) rescued Dawa Sherpa, 57, at Crampon Point after he was seen crawling toward base camp, said SPCC Chief Executive Officer Tshering Sherpa.
Read Also: Sherpa climber left to die near Camp III as Everest season closes
Dawa, popularly known as Hillary Dawa from Okhaldhunga, went missing from above Camp III after being left behind by fellow climbers from Himalayan Traverse during the descent to lower camps.
Read More: Aerial search on Mt Everest finds no trace of missing Sherpa; permit sharing may cost dearly
“Dawa is suffering from frostbite and speaks very slowly,” Tshering said.
“Yesterday, I saw a helicopter flying over me. I raised my both hands twice from the icefall section, but they didn’t notice me,” Dawa, as per Durga Rai, told the SPCC team at Gorakshep. A chopper piloted by Captain Bibek Khadka, along with Guide Pranav Sherpa and Dawa’s relative Ang Kami Sherpa, conducted an aerial search yesterday to find Dawa, who was left to die on Mt Everest.
Dawa was alone, and no search and rescue operation was conducted for the first six days. According to the rescue team, Dawa found a second lease of life, having struggled for seven days to reach Crampon Point from just below the South Col. He had no food in the thin air and no bottled oxygen support.
As Himalayan Traverse did not conduct any search and rescue to save Dawa from the death zone, all seven ladders from the treacherous icefall section were taken away by expedition members after they returned to base camp on May 31. How Dawa crossed the deep crevasse along the icefall section with no ladders is both scary and amazing, reacted Durga Rai, a rescuer from the SPCC.
Dawa is now being taken to Gorakshep by the SPCC team.
“This is a miraculous survival for a Sherpa, as he struggled to descend without food or water from the death zone,” Tshering said. Yesterday, an aerial search team mobilized by 8K Expeditions had not located him.
Pemba Sherpa, Chairman at 8K Expeditions, said an Altitude Helicopter has already taken off from Lukla to Gorakshep for evacuation. “Our company deployed a chopper to bring Dawa to HAMS hospital for treatment,” Pemba added.
Details to follow.
Comment
Al Mountain Man
Gods Sherpa. X
Rojita Buddhacharya
Salute To His Willpower, Determination And Courage! A Real Miracle - I Cannot Imagine How Scary It Must Have Been. I Am Concerned About One Particular Thing: The Company's Handling Of This Situation Demonstrates A Troubling Lack Of Urgency. Given The Circumstances, I Just Have One Question Why Search-and-rescue Efforts Were Not Mobilized Within The First 24 Hours After He Went Missing, Why They Waited For Days? And, Now Trying To Cover Up For Their Unacceptable Negligence !!
Palzer Tamang
He Didn't Just Survive — He Refused To Quit. Crawling Back From The Death Zone Alone Is The Real Miracle. Wishing Dawa Sherpa A Very Speedy Recovery And A Long, Healthy Life Ahead.🙏
Ferol Humphrey
I Have Been Following This Story For Days With Sadness And Horror. I Cannot Describe How Relieved And Grateful I Am That Hillary Dawa Somehow Made It Without Ladders, Food, Or Water, From The Death Zone. His Endurance And Stamina Are Ingenious And Superhuman. May Every Blessing Be On Him As He Recovers From This Extreme Ordeal. Best Outcomes And All Honor To Hillary Dawa! Many Thanks To All The Team Who Will Help Him Recover.