Injured climber trapped alone on Mount Everest for days reveals how an avalanche saved his life

Injured Climber Trapped on Mount Everest Credits Avalanche for Survival

Injured climber trapped alone on Mount - Dawa Sherpa, a 57-year-old Nepali climber, emerged from a deadly crevasse on Mount Everest after being stranded for days, attributing his miraculous survival to an unexpected avalanche. His harrowing account, shared in a recent interview, highlights how the natural disaster turned his perilous situation into a chance for life. Now recovering in Kathmandu with his family, Sherpa recounted the chilling moments when the avalanche swept through the icy slopes, carrying him from the brink of death to safety.

Stranded on the Mountain

On May 29, Sherpa was left behind by his team during a descent from the Balcony, a high ridge on Everest at 27,559 feet, after his oxygen supply ran out. The climb became a desperate struggle as he navigated frozen conditions with frostbitten fingers and a fractured leg. By nightfall, he reached Camp Three, approximately 23,000 feet, where he spent a night battling hypothermia with a meager supply of frozen noodles and a single cup of porridge.

"The porridge was all I had to stay conscious," Sherpa said. "I heated water by melting ice, drank it, and managed to keep going. But my hands and feet were numb, and I couldn’t move for hours."

His family had prepared for the worst, performing Buddhist rituals and notifying monks in their community. The initial report of his disappearance for six days added to the uncertainty, but Sherpa clarified he had been stranded for nearly a week. "I thought I would never see the sun again," he admitted, reflecting on the isolation and despair of his ordeal.

Team’s Ascent and the Fall

Before his ordeal, Sherpa was part of an expedition led by Himalayan Traverse Adventure, where he served as a cook at Camp Two. Though not a guide, he was called in last-minute to replace a teammate. The group was returning from a summit attempt during a record-breaking climbing season on Everest, which saw an unprecedented number of climbers attempting the peak. Thrall, a British climber, was the last to see Sherpa before the incident.

"I told him to keep going, and I would follow," Sherpa recalled. "But when my oxygen ran out, I couldn’t move. I was stuck at the rope, waiting for help."

After regaining some strength, he crawled toward a tent at Camp Three, scavenging for food. He found dried coffee and a few biscuits, which he consumed to maintain energy. "I was so weak, I couldn’t even hold my head up," he said. "The cold was like a knife, and I wasn’t sure if I’d survive the night."

The Avalanche’s Lifesaving Impact

As days passed, Sherpa’s hope began to fade. On June 3, he heard the distant roar of a helicopter, which he believed signaled his rescue. However, the next day, an avalanche swept through the area, burying the crevasse he was trapped in and dislodging a 62-pound bag of oxygen cylinders. "The avalanche came, and it pushed me out of the ice," he said. "It was like the mountain itself was trying to save me."

"I hit my head but landed on a flat surface," Sherpa explained. "The impact helped me realize I was alive, and I started moving again, even though I couldn’t feel my legs."

After the avalanche, he crawled toward the surface, eventually reaching a safe spot where he was found by rescuers. The event not only freed him from the crevasse but also provided a critical moment for him to regroup and continue his journey. "I didn’t think I would make it out, but the avalanche gave me a chance to breathe," he said, emphasizing the role of the natural event in his survival.

Survival Against the Odds

Despite the injuries, Sherpa’s determination kept him alive. He described the physical and emotional toll of being stranded alone, with no communication or supplies. "I was alone for days, thinking about my family and how I would tell them I was okay," he shared. "The avalanche was the turning point—it reminded me I wasn’t completely helpless."

"I never thought I would survive this long," Sherpa said. "But the avalanche brought me out of the ice, and that’s when I knew I had a chance to live."

His recovery has been gradual, with medical attention in Kathmandu helping him regain strength. Sherpa’s story has become a testament to resilience and the unpredictable forces of nature. "Everest is unforgiving, but sometimes it gives you a second chance," he concluded, offering a message of hope to fellow climbers facing adversity.