Separation on Mount Everest
A former British soldier has shared his experience of becoming separated from his mountain guide while descending Mount Everest.
Dawa Sherpa was found alive on Thursday after spending six days in the so-called "death zone". Climber Chris Thrall expressed disbelief at Sherpa's survival against the odds.
"It's kind of crazy one minute to be fighting back tears with his daughter, and then the next minute to see him crawling into town. It's absolutely amazing, beyond words".
Thrall last saw Dawa Sherpa resting briefly on his backpack as they descended toward base camp after several challenging days of climbing.
Thrall passed the guide, also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa in honor of famed mountaineer Edmund Hillary.
Descent and Separation
Thrall continued descending alone for approximately 50-100 meters before encountering another group member, a Polish climber without oxygen who was suffering from severe frostbite.
"So immediately my attention turned to the weakest member of the trio. And that was that,"Thrall told BBC's Newshour.
"As I look back up the mountain, as I helped this guy descend, Hillary Dawa didn't appear to have moved, and certainly wasn't descending, because we would have seen his head torch."
Dawa Sherpa was last seen above Camp 3, at an altitude of around 7,500 meters.
Six Days Missing
For six days, there was no sign of Dawa Sherpa. His wife began offering last rites prayers for his soul, as reported to AFP.
As hopes for his survival diminished, Dawa Sherpa was slowly making his way toward safety. On Thursday, he was spotted by a cleaning crew as he slid down the world's tallest mountain.
When Thrall first saw social media comments claiming Dawa Sherpa had been found alive, he thought it was "spam."
"It really does defy the odds. I met the family yesterday to offer my utmost condolences,"Thrall told Newshour.
"He added he was very happy for Hillary, looking forward to speaking to him."
Search Efforts and Medical Condition
Pemba Sherpa, executive director of 8K Expeditions, which oversaw search efforts, described the event as a "true self-rescue."
"Dawa managed to survive against all odds for days. It's nothing short of a miracle,"he said.
Dawa Sherpa is currently "awake and undergoing treatment," according to Nishant Dhakal, a doctor in the intensive care unit of Kathmandu's HAMS Hospital.
"We are managing his frostbites, cold injuries, hydration and trauma. He is being further evaluated and will be in our ICU."
His daughter, Mhendo Lhamo Sherpa, told after visiting him,
"He recognised me … is good and speaks. We are happy."
Mount Everest Climbing Season
This season has seen more than 1,000 climbers reach the Everest summit, making it the busiest on record. According to AFP, five people have died during the season.
