Nepal (The COW News Digital)A Nepali climber who had been missing for six days on Mount Everest has been found alive in what rescuers are calling a remarkable survival story.
Dawa Sherpa, an experienced mountaineer, was discovered days after being reported missing during an expedition on the world’s highest peak. According to international media reports, his family had feared the worst and had even begun preparations for his final rites, believing he had perished in the extreme conditions.
Sherpa was located by a search team high on the mountain after enduring nearly a week in freezing temperatures with limited supplies. Speaking from his hospital bed in Kathmandu, he said he survived by eating small amounts of chocolate he had in his pockets and melting snow for water. He clarified that he had not intentionally separated from his group but was forced to stop after his oxygen cylinder ran empty during the descent.
“I had no choice but to remain where I was,” Sherpa reportedly told local media. “I focused on staying conscious and conserving energy.”
Rescue officials said Sherpa was suffering from severe dehydration, frostbite, and a fractured bone when he was airlifted from the mountain. He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Kathmandu, where doctors have described his condition as stable but serious.
Mount Everest, standing at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet), attracts hundreds of climbers each year from around the world. While modern equipment and improved forecasting have increased summit success rates, the mountain remains perilous. Sudden weather changes, altitude sickness, avalanches, and oxygen shortages continue to pose life-threatening risks.
Sherpa’s survival has drawn widespread attention in Nepal’s mountaineering community. Fellow climbers and expedition organizers have described his endurance as extraordinary, noting that extended exposure at such altitude without supplemental oxygen significantly reduces survival chances.
Authorities have not released full details of the search operation but confirmed that coordination between local guides and rescue teams played a critical role in locating him.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of both the dangers and unpredictability of high-altitude climbing. Despite the risks, Everest continues to symbolize the ultimate challenge for adventurers worldwide.
For Dawa Sherpa and his relieved family, however, the focus now shifts from survival to recovery — and a second chance at life.
