Is it possible to survive on Everest for 6 days without food, water and extra oxygen? When the family had made preparations for the last rites, where was Dawa Sherpa found? What was his biggest struggle behind crossing the dangerous Khumbu Icefall alone? Was it just a rescue or a miracle that happened on Mount Everest that shocked the world?
Everest Sherpa Rescue: Mount Everest, the world’s highest and most dangerous peak, which many climbers also call the ‘Valley of Death’, has witnessed a miracle that has shocked science, doctors and the history of Everest itself. Temperatures several degrees below zero, not a grain of food, not a drop of water and most dangerous of all – 6 whole days without extra oxygen! When the last ray of hope had died down and the family had started the last rites with tearful eyes, a man broke through the white shroud of snow and came back alive.
That mysterious turn just before the peak: How did the two climbers get separated?
The hair-raising suspense began when 52-year-old veteran Nepali Sherpa guide, Dawa Sherpa, took a Polish climber on a mission to conquer the 29,032 feet high Everest. Despite reaching very close to the peak, due to weather and conditions, they failed in this mission and started returning. But suddenly something happened between Camp III and Camp IV which gave a scary turn to this whole story. What happened between the two is still a deep mystery, but the Polish climber returned to base camp safely, but Dawa Sherpa never reached there. They were last seen on May 29, after which they completely disappeared somewhere amidst the snow storms.
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When everyone had given up hope: funeral rituals had started at home.
Days passed and the Everest climbing season was also coming to an end. Officials had started removing ropes, ladders and paths installed from the mountain according to the weather. When no trace of Dawa was found in the initial search operation amidst heavy snowfall and severe lack of oxygen, the administration and the family assumed that Dawa was no longer in this world. Dejected and in deep grief, his family accepted Dawa Sherpa’s death with a heavy heart and also began the traditional funeral rituals for him. There was an atmosphere of mourning in the house, every eye was moist and no one had any idea that destiny had written a different story behind the scenes.
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A shadow looming over the Khumbu Icefall: The cleaning team’s surprising discovery!
Then came that moment, which turned this entire tragedy into a historical miracle. A cleaning team working to clear trash and remove abandoned ropes from the lower slopes of Everest after the climbing season ended was passing through the dangerous routes of the Khumbu Icefalls. Then suddenly the team members saw a lone shadow crawling amidst the endless sea of white snow. That shadow amidst the dangerous cracks and freezing cold was none other than Dawa Sherpa, wrapped in his climbing jacket! The rescue team shuddered at the distance between where Dawa had last lost his team and where they were found, which meant that Dawa had crossed a large and deadly section of the mountain alone without any support.
Happiness returned to the eyes of the family
Dawa Sherpa’s condition was very critical. He was suffering from severe frostbite, his body was completely exhausted and he could hardly move. He was immediately brought down the mountain and airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment. When his daughter Mendo Lhamu Sherpa received this news, she could not believe her ears. At first the relatives considered this news to be a rumor and asked doctors for pictures of the claim to confirm it. As soon as the pictures were seen, instead of crying the screams in the house turned into joy. “They recognized me, they’re even talking. We’re very happy,” Mendo said emotionally, speaking to Reuters.
Without oxygen, without food… how can Dawa survive?
According to experts, surviving even for a few hours in that area of Everest is considered challenging. In such a situation, surviving for almost a week amidst extreme cold, low oxygen and dangerous icy roads is no less than a miracle. Nepal’s Mount Everest Hiking Company has also described the incident as an “incredible miracle”. According to the company, Dawa crossed the dangerous route alone, even though many of the ladders and ropes installed for the season had already been removed.
Everest’s most incredible survival miracle?
More than 1,000 climbers and guides successfully reached the summit of Everest this year, but five people lost their lives. Dawa Sherpa’s return alive amid such extreme weather and risks has probably become one of the most incredible mountaineering stories in recent years. A miracle that proved that sometimes human willpower can challenge even the most difficult situations in the world. Saluting this miracle on social media, Nepal’s Mount Everest Hiking Company wrote that Dawa’s single-handed crossing of the deadly Khumbu Icefall, without food, water or oxygen, at a time when even the stairs for the season had been removed, is no less than a divine miracle.