A Sherpa guide missing for over a week on Mount Everest has been found alive in what is undeniably a miracle survival story.
Dawa Sherpa, or Hillary Dawa Sherpa, 52, was discovered crawling near Crampon Point at the base of the Khumbu Icefall early Thursday morning by a crew from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), the organization responsible for laying and removing ropes and ladders on the mountain each season. According to the Associated Press, Dawa was quickly carried to safety and given food and water before a rescue helicopter flew him to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu.
Dawa had last been seen around May 29th descending from the Yellow Band above Camp 3, at roughly 7,600 meters, according to both the AP and Everest Live, a climbing news outlet that broke the story in a live broadcast Thursday. His client, a Polish climber, made it down safely. Dawa did not.
The Everest Live broadcast noted that fellow expedition member Chris Thrall had been among the last to see Dawa alive, watching his headlamp go dark on the mountain before assuming the worst. Search helicopters were eventually dispatched but failed to locate him.
According to unconfirmed information from those on the mountain, Dawa may have been motivated to keep moving after hearing one of those helicopters searching for him. The outlet also reported that SPCC workers may have made the unconventional decision to leave a large ladder bridge in place on the Khumbu Icefall on the slim chance Dawa might still be alive and need a pathway down.
Response from Dawa’s Famaily
When crews finally found Dawa, his wife and daughter in Kathmandu were already two days into funeral rituals held in his honor.
“When we first heard about it, 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, Dawa’s daughter, according to the AP. “
Everest Live reported Dawa arrived at the hospital conscious and able to speak, though he suffered severe frostbite on his hands. He had been on the mountain for roughly seven days without food, water, or supplemental oxygen.
Mount Everest 2026
The 2026 Mount Everest season has wrapped up, and it’s looking like it was a historic one. According to reports over 950 summits were recorded from the Nepal side alone this year, marking what’s certainly a record. Despite this number only 5 deaths were recorded on the mountain throughout the season, a relatively low number given the volume of summiters (all deaths are tragic no matter the number).
