A Nepali Sherpa who survived nearly a week stranded on Mount Everest without food, water, or supplemental oxygen has been moved out of intensive care, his family said. Dawa Sherpa, 57, also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, disappeared on 30 May during a late-season expedition and was found on 4 June slowly making his way towards base camp. He was evacuated by helicopter and taken to Kathmandu for treatment.
Family members accused his travel company, Himalayan Traverse Adventures, of negligence for not launching a timely rescue. Dawa Sherpa suffered from frostbite, severe dehydration, and a fractured thigh bone. His relative Nuru Sherpa told AFP that doctors are monitoring his hands and legs for improvement. Dawa Sherpa said he was left alone near Everest's 'death zone' after running out of oxygen.
In an interview with BBC News Nepali, Dawa Sherpa recounted surviving by chewing ice for water and finding chocolates and snacks in his pockets. He descended from 25,000ft to 17,500ft by himself. Lakpa Sherpa, director of 8K Expeditions, called his self-rescue 'one of the most incredible things we’ve ever seen on Mount Everest.'
Family members said Dawa Sherpa fell into a crevasse above the Khumbu icefall and was trapped for about two days before climbing out after snowfall and avalanches partially filled the gap. Members of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee eventually spotted him crawling through the snow near Khumbu. Billi Bierling, director of The Himalayan Database, described his survival as 'an absolute miracle.'
Dawa Sherpa had been working as a cook at Camp II, not as a high-altitude climbing guide, according to Everest Chronicle and his family. British climber Chris Thrall, who was descending with him, said Dawa Sherpa stopped to rest and urged others to continue without him. A helicopter search on 2 June failed to locate him.
