Daijiworld Media Network – Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Jun 6: In a dramatic turn of events, a Nepali Sherpa guide feared dead after going missing on Mount Everest has been found alive nearly a week later, astonishing rescuers and the mountaineering community.

Dawa Sherpa, 52, disappeared on May 29 while descending from Everest with a Polish climber after an unsuccessful summit attempt. He was last seen between Camp III and Camp IV before losing contact during the descent.

While the climber safely returned to base camp, Dawa failed to arrive, triggering search efforts. As days passed without any trace of him, hopes of survival faded and his family reportedly began traditional funeral rituals, believing he had perished on the mountain.

The breakthrough came unexpectedly when a cleanup team working to remove ropes, ladders and other equipment at the end of the climbing season spotted a lone figure moving through the snow above the treacherous Khumbu Icefall.

To their surprise, the man was Dawa Sherpa.

Rescuers found him exhausted, suffering from frostbite and barely able to move. Officials said he had apparently survived alone in Everest's extreme conditions for six days, enduring freezing temperatures, low oxygen levels and harsh terrain.

He was immediately evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu for medical treatment.

His daughter, Mendo Lhamu Sherpa, expressed relief after meeting him. “He recognised me and is able to speak. We are very happy,” she said.

Mountaineering officials described Dawa's survival as extraordinary, noting that very few people have managed to endure such conditions on Everest for so long without support.

The incident has been hailed as one of the most remarkable survival stories in recent Everest climbing history.