05/06/2026
Miracle in the Himalayas: Dawa Sherpa Survives 6 Days on Everest Without Food, Water, or Oxygen!
Kathmandu, June 5, 2026 — Nepali Sherpa Hillary Dawa Sherpa has captured global attention after reportedly surviving alone on Mount Everest for six days without food, water, or supplemental oxygen. Presumed dead by many, he returned alive and has become the subject of an extraordinary survival story.
The 52-year-old Dawa Sherpa was guiding a Polish client on an Everest expedition through Himalayan Travers Company. On May 29, he was descending from the upper mountain with his client. However, Dawa failed to return to Base Camp, and all communication with him was lost. He was declared missing, and his family had even begun preparations for his funeral.
On June 4, a cleanup team from the Everest Pollution Control Committee discovered Dawa near Base Camp, crawling through a snow mound. He was descending from the Khumbu Icefall area. How he managed to survive remains a mystery, especially since the fixed ropes and ladders on the route had already been removed.
According to doctors, his condition is serious. He suffered severe frostbite injuries to his hands and feet due to prolonged exposure to extreme cold. He was airlifted to Kathmandu by helicopter and is currently receiving medical treatment. At the hospital, he shared an emotional reunion with his wife and daughter.
Members of the Sherpa community and mountaineering experts have described the incident as “extremely rare and miraculous.” Surviving for six days in Everest’s notorious “Death Zone” is generally considered nearly impossible.
Dawa Sherpa has worked as an Everest guide for many years. This remarkable incident has once again highlighted the immense risks faced by Sherpas and their extraordinary courage and resilience in the world’s highest mountains.