Nepali Everest Guide Found Alive After Six Days Missing in ‘Miracle’ Survival Story

A veteran Nepali climbing guide who disappeared for six days high on Mount Everest has been found alive in what rescue officials are describing as one of the mountain’s most extraordinary survival stories in recent years.

Dawa Sherpa, a 57-year-old mountaineering guide widely known in Nepal’s climbing community by the nickname “Hillary,” was discovered alive on June 4 after being reported missing during a dangerous summit descent in severe conditions near Everest’s notorious “death zone.”

The experienced guide vanished on May 30, 2026, while descending from the world’s highest peak after an exhausting 11-day summit expedition. Family members in Kathmandu had reportedly already begun funeral rites after believing he had died on the mountain. (bbc.com)

Found Crawling Near the Khumbu Icefall

According to rescue officials and Nepal’s Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), Dawa Sherpa was spotted by a seasonal cleanup crew working near Crampon Point and the dangerous Khumbu Icefall area. (bbc.com)

Rescuers said the climber was slowly sliding and crawling alone down steep snowy terrain when he was found. Officials described the discovery as astonishing because safety ladders used to cross deep crevasses in the Khumbu Icefall had already been dismantled for the season.

The Khumbu Icefall is considered one of the most hazardous sections of the Everest climbing route due to constantly shifting ice towers, unstable snow bridges, and massive open crevasses. (en.wikipedia.org)

Rescue workers stated that surviving alone in the area without oxygen support, climbing partners, or fixed safety infrastructure for nearly a week is extremely rare.

Survived on Ice and Chocolate

Speaking to BBC Nepali from hospital, Dawa Sherpa said he managed to stay alive by chewing ice for water and eating several chocolates he found in his pockets. (bbc.com)

He explained that his supplementary oxygen supply ran out during the descent, forcing him to remain behind while others continued moving down the mountain.

High-altitude survival experts say the combination of oxygen deprivation, freezing temperatures, exhaustion, and dehydration above 8,000 meters — known as the “death zone” — makes prolonged survival extremely difficult.

Temperatures on Everest during summit season can fall below minus 30 degrees Celsius, while reduced oxygen levels severely impair physical and cognitive functioning. (nationalgeographic.com)

Airlifted to Kathmandu Hospital

After being rescued from Everest Base Camp, Dawa Sherpa was airlifted to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu for emergency treatment.

Doctors said he remains conscious and is able to communicate with family members, although he is suffering from severe dehydration, frostbite injuries to his hands, and a fractured bone. (bbc.com)

Medical specialists noted that frostbite cases often require prolonged treatment and may result in permanent tissue damage depending on severity and delayed exposure to freezing conditions.

Family members reportedly described the rescue as “a second life” after already believing the veteran climber had died on Everest.

Investigation Launched Into Expedition Handling

The incident has also triggered controversy over the management of the expedition and the timing of rescue efforts.

A Polish climber who descended successfully from the expedition publicly accused organizers and handlers of failing to launch an immediate search after Dawa Sherpa disappeared. The climber alleged there had been serious operational failures and poor emergency coordination during the descent phase. (bbc.com)

Nepal’s Department of Tourism has since opened a formal investigation into the expedition company’s conduct, including possible delays in rescue response and compliance with mountaineering safety regulations. (kathmandupost.com)

Officials said investigators will examine:

Emergency communication procedures
Oxygen supply planning
Search and rescue timelines
High-altitude safety protocols
Expedition management responsibilities

The investigation comes amid broader concerns about overcrowding, commercial pressures, and safety standards on Mount Everest, where Nepal issues hundreds of climbing permits annually during peak season.

Everest Safety Debate Renewed

The dramatic rescue has reignited international discussion about the risks facing Sherpas and support staff who guide climbers through some of the world’s most dangerous high-altitude conditions.

Sherpas play a critical role in Everest expeditions by fixing ropes, carrying equipment, managing camps, and assisting foreign climbers during summit attempts. Despite their experience, they often face some of the mountain’s greatest physical dangers.

Mount Everest has seen a rising number of rescue operations and fatalities in recent years as commercial climbing traffic continues increasing. Experts warn that unpredictable weather, climate-driven ice instability, and crowding near summit routes are making the mountain increasingly hazardous. (outsideonline.com)

For now, rescue teams and family members say Dawa Sherpa’s survival remains one of the season’s most remarkable stories on the mountain.