Sherpa guide Dawa Sherpa survives alone on Everest after being presumed dead
Consensus Summary
Dawa Sherpa, a 52-year-old Nepali guide also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, survived nearly a week on Mount Everest without food, water, or supplemental oxygen after being presumed dead. Last seen on May 29, 2026, at the Yellow Band above Camp Three, he was found crawling near base camp on June 4, 2026, by a cleanup crew from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee. His family had already begun funeral rituals, believing him dead, before his rescue. Dawa was airlifted to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, where he is recovering from frostbite, dehydration, and a fractured bone. British climber Chris Thrall was the last person to see him alive, and his survival has been described as miraculous by the Sherpa community. The 2026 climbing season saw over 1,000 climbers and five deaths, with delays caused by a large ice block near base camp. Experts and Sherpa leaders praised Dawa’s resilience, noting that his survival at such extreme altitudes is unprecedented.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Dawa Sherpa (52) survived nearly a week (six days) on Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen or food, crawling down from above Camp Three (7,600m/24,934ft) to base camp.
- Dawa Sherpa was last seen on May 29, 2026, at the Yellow Band (above Camp Three) while descending with a Polish climber (Mariusz Chmielewski).
- His family had begun funeral rituals for him, believing he was dead, before he was found on June 4, 2026.
- Dawa Sherpa was found by a cleanup crew from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee near the Khumbu Icefall, just above base camp, and airlifted to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu.
- He is recovering from dehydration, frostbite, and a fractured bone, and his daughter Mhendo Lhamo Sherpa confirmed he was speaking and recognized family members.
- British climber Chris Thrall was the last person to see Dawa alive on May 29, 2026, near the Yellow Band, and later helped a Polish climber with frostbite.
- The 2026 Everest climbing season saw over 1,000 climbers and five deaths, with delays caused by a large ice block near base camp.
- Dawa Sherpa is also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, named after Edmund Hillary, and works for Himalayan Traverse.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Dawa Sherpa found a few chocolates in his pocket before falling into a crevasse, where he was trapped for two-and-a-half days before an avalanche freed him.
- He chewed ice for two days before finding food, and his survival was described as the first of its kind at that altitude on Everest by Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions.
- Simon Balderstone, part of the 1984 Australian Everest expedition, attributed Dawa’s survival to his instinct to descend and rest to avoid cerebral edema.
- Dawa was carried down by a cleanup crew before being airlifted to hospital, where he spoke to the BBC from Kathmandu.
- The fixed ladders and ropes in the Khumbu Icefall had been removed for the season, making his descent even more perilous.
- Dawa Sherpa was last seen in the 'death zone' region of Everest, where oxygen levels are insufficient for sustained human survival.
- The Guardian notes that Sherpas are an ethnic group descended from Tibetan heritage, originally yak herders and traders in the Himalayas.
- The article highlights criticism of Nepal’s authorities for allowing large numbers of climbers, leading to risky jams in the 'death zone'.
- Dawa’s wife, Damu Sherpa, confirmed they initially doubted the rescue news and requested photos for verification.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 (ABC) states Dawa was last seen at 7,600 meters (Yellow Band, above Camp Three), while Article 3 (Guardian) states he was last seen at 7,200 meters (Yellow Band, above Camp Three).
- Article 1 (ABC) mentions Dawa was trapped in a crevasse for two-and-a-half days, but this detail is not confirmed in Article 2 (ABC) or Article 3 (Guardian).
- Article 1 (ABC) includes a quote from Simon Balderstone about cerebral edema, while Article 2 (ABC) and Article 3 (Guardian) do not mention this medical detail.
Source Articles
No oxygen and just a few chocolates: Sherpa describes miracle Everest survival
A few chocolates found in his pocket and an avalanche may have been what saved Dawa Sherpa from almost certain death on Mount Everest.
Man presumed dead survives week on Mount Everest without food or oxygen
A Sherpa guide, presumed dead after failing to descend from Mount Everest, was found crawling down to base camp a week after he went missing.
Missing Sherpa guide found alive on Everest after funeral rites had begun
Climbing support team rescue Hillary Dawa Sherpa almost a week on from when he was last seen A Nepali Sherpa guide who was believed to have died on Mount Everest has been found crawling to base camp a week after going missing – and after his funeral rites had begun. Hillary Dawa Sherpa, named after the famous climber Edmund Hillary, was last seen on 29 May but did not reach base camp with other climbing groups. Continue reading...