Guide missing for a week on Mount Everest found crawling to base camp: "Nothing short of a miracle"
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Sherpa guide Dawa Sherpa, 52, who went missing last week while descending Mount Everest, was found alive crawling near the Khumbu Icefall and has been reunited with his family in Kathmandu.
- His survival amid harsh conditions on the world's highest peak has been described as "a miracle" by the Nepalese mountaineering community, highlighting the resilience of Sherpas.
- Dawa was last seen on May 29 near Camp 3 at 23,622 feet but failed to reach base camp, while his client successfully descended; a delayed search effort initially failed to locate him.
- The rescue was carried out by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee’s cleaning crew, and Dawa is now recovering from frostbite at HAMS Hospital.
- The Everest climbing season saw record numbers this May, raising concerns about overcrowding and safety, with calls from Sherpa leaders for stricter regulation of climber permits to ensure quality and reduce risks.