Sherpa guide missing for a week on Mount Everest rescued while crawling to base camp
The Seattle Times • • world
Key Points:
- Sherpa guide Dawa Sherpa was found crawling near Mount Everest's base camp a week after going missing, and was safely reunited with his family who had begun funeral rituals, believing he was dead.
- Dawa was last seen descending from around 7,200 meters (Yellow Band above Camp 3) on May 29 but failed to reach base camp at 5,300 meters, while his client arrived safely.
- He was discovered by a cleaning crew from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, who remove climbing equipment after the season ends, and was airlifted to Kathmandu for medical care.
- The rescue came after a delayed search effort, during which helicopters failed to locate him, and his family only confirmed his survival upon receiving photos.
- Nepal's mountaineering community praised Dawa's survival as miraculous given the harsh conditions, highlighting the resilience of Sherpa guides who have long been integral to Himalayan climbing expeditions.