Missing Everest guide found alive after 6 days without food or water as family prepared last rites

Nepali climbing guide Dawa Sherpa, 52, who went missing on the upper slopes of Mount Everest on May 29, was found alive on June 4 after surviving alone for nearly six days. His family had already begun preparations for his last rites, while search teams had largely lost hope of finding him alive. He was discovered near the Everest base camp by a team from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee and was subsequently airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Dawa Sherpa disappeared while descending from the mountain between Camp III and Camp IV after assisting a European climber. According to rescue officials, he was found crawling near the base camp by a team engaged in cleaning operations on the mountain. Rescuers transported him to the base camp before he was flown by helicopter to Kathmandu for medical care. His family later confirmed that he was conscious, recognised relatives, and was receiving treatment for frostbite and other complications.

Family members said they had given up hope after several days without any information about his whereabouts. His wife stated that the family had already begun religious rituals associated with last rites before learning that he had been found alive. His daughter said the family initially struggled to believe the news and only accepted it after receiving photographs confirming his identity.

According to information shared by expedition officials, Dawa Sherpa survived for nearly a week without food, water or supplemental oxygen while navigating the mountain after the climbing season had largely ended. Search teams had been unable to locate him despite extensive efforts following his disappearance. His reappearance came after he managed to descend on his own to lower elevations.

Chris Thrall, the climber whom Dawa Sherpa had been assisting during the descent, said the guide stopped to rest while they were descending from Camp IV on May 29. Thrall later encountered another climber suffering from oxygen shortages and frostbite and focused on assisting him during a prolonged descent. Search operations were launched after Dawa Sherpa failed to reappear, but he was not seen again until he was discovered near the base camp on Thursday morning.