Missing Sherpa guide found alive on Everest after funeral rites had begun

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The Last Sighting at 25,000 Feet

The disappearance of Hillary Dawa Sherpa began on May 29, in one of the most lethal environments on Earth. While descending from the mountain, Dawa—who was guiding a Polish climber for the firm Himalayan Traverse—stopped to rest on a rock just below Camp IV. According to Outside Magazine, he was positioned at approximately 25,000 feet when he separated from his group. Chris Thrall, a British climber and former Royal Marine who was also a client of Himalayan Traverse, recalls the moment Dawa stopped. Thrall asked if his companion was alright; Dawa responded, Yes, yes, I’m fine, Chris. Please go. Relying on the experienced guide’s judgment, Thrall continued his descent, eventually linking up with the Polish client, who was struggling with severe frostbite and a lack of oxygen. By the time the group reached lower camps, Dawa had vanished. He was last seen near the Yellow Band above Camp 3, an area known as the death zone. At this altitude, oxygen levels are so depleted that the human body cannot sustain itself for long. With a satellite phone and radio that may or may not have been functional, Dawa was left alone in a landscape of bitter, changeable weather.

A Six-Day Descent Through the Khumbu Icefall

For nearly a week, Dawa existed in a state of extreme deprivation. He had no access to food, water, or supplemental oxygen. To survive, he had to descend from 25,000 feet down to 17,500 feet entirely on his own. The final leg of his journey took him through the Khumbu Icefall, a shifting labyrinth of ice towers and deep crevasses. As Fox News reported, Dawa was discovered Thursday morning by a cleanup crew from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee. He was not walking; he was crawling along the rocks and ice just above base camp. The timing of his discovery added a layer of technical difficulty to the survival story. The fixed ladders typically used to navigate the Icefall had already been removed for the season, meaning Dawa had to navigate one of the mountain’s most treacherous sections without the standard safety infrastructure.

Funeral Rites and the Shock of Survival

While Dawa fought for his life on the slopes, his family in Kathmandu had reached a devastating conclusion. His wife, Damu Sherpa, and teenage daughter, Mendo Lhamu Sherpa, had already begun the traditional funeral rituals, which typically last several days. The notification of his survival arrived not through official channels, but via local news and phone calls from acquaintances. The shock was so profound that the family initially doubted the report. “When we first heard about it [the rescue], we could not be sure if that person was indeed our father. So to be certain we asked for photos to be sent and then only we were sure and very happy.” Mendo Lhamu Sherpa, daughter of Dawa Sherpa Once confirmed, Dawa was airlifted by helicopter to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. Despite suffering from extreme exhaustion and frostbite on his hands, he was conscious and able to recognize his family upon arrival.

The Physical and Psychological Toll of Self-Rescue

The mountaineering community is treating Dawa’s survival as a statistical anomaly. Most climbers who vanish in the death zone without oxygen or supplies succumb to hypothermia or edema within hours, let alone days. The scale of the feat is highlighted by the distance covered and the conditions endured:

• Altitude Drop: Descended from 25,000 feet to 17,500 feet.
• Duration: Six days missing in sub-zero temperatures.
• Resources: Zero food, zero water, zero supplemental oxygen.
• Terrain: Navigated the Khumbu Icefall after the removal of fixed ladders.

According to The Guardian, the rescue was coordinated by Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions. Lakpa Sherpa, the director of 8K Expeditions, described Dawa’s ability to self-rescue as one of the most incredible events ever witnessed on the mountain. “This is nothing short of a miracle surviving so many days on the mountains facing such harsh conditions.” Ang Tshering Sherpa, mountaineering community leader This survival underscores a recurring theme in high-altitude climbing: the sheer resilience of the Sherpa people. Ang Tshering Sherpa noted that Sherpas are built tough growing up in the mountains, a biological and cultural adaptation that may have provided Dawa the marginal edge needed to survive. For the broader climbing community, the event serves as a psychological catalyst. Kristin Harila, a record-holding climber of the 14 highest peaks, suggested that Dawa’s return proves that rescue efforts should never be abandoned as long as there is a sliver of hope. However, the physical cost remains; Dawa’s recovery from severe frostbite will likely be a long process, marking a permanent reminder of the six days he spent as a ghost on the world’s highest peak.