Hillary Dawa Sherpa, a 52-year-old Nepali mountain worker, survived six days alone on Mount Everest after disappearing at 25,000 feet on May 29, 2026. Rescued near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall on June 4, his survival involved self-rescuing from a crevasse and descending thousands of feet without supplemental oxygen, food, or water, according to reporting by Outside and the Everest Chronicle.
The Path to Survival
The ordeal began when Hillary Dawa, initially working as a camp cook, was on the upper slopes of Everest with two clients. According to Chris Thrall, one of the climbers, Dawa stopped to rest near Camp IV at 25,000 feet and encouraged the group to continue their descent. When the clients returned to check on him, he was gone, having run out of supplemental oxygen, as reported by the BBC.
For six days, Dawa navigated the mountain alone. Family members told reporters that he survived by chewing ice and snow and consuming a single chocolate bar found in his pocket. He eventually fell into a crevasse, where he remained for approximately two days before avalanches and snowfall provided enough cover for him to climb out. On June 4, workers from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) discovered him crawling near the base of the icefall.
Hillary Dawa Sherpa was wearing the same blue and yellow summit suit when he was found at the foot of the Khumbu Icefall that he had been wearing when he first went missing six days earlier.
Operational Questions and Industry Response
The survival of a camp cook on the upper flanks of Everest has sparked intense debate regarding employment practices and rescue protocols. While Dawa was hired as a camp cook at 21,000 feet, a representative for Himalayan Traverse Adventures told The New York Times on June 6 that he had requested to move to higher elevations to earn a higher pay rate.
Industry experts have questioned the delay in rescue efforts. Although Thrall alerted Base Camp on May 30, the first helicopter search—organized by 8K Expeditions—did not launch until June 2. Lakpa Sherpa, director of 8K Expeditions, alleged that Himalayan Traverse Adventures never contacted his company to report their employee missing. This delay has led to broader criticisms from industry figures like Austrian guide Lukas Furtenbach, who questioned whether the search urgency would have differed if a Western client had gone missing instead of a local worker.
Comparative Perspectives on Rescue Urgency
The response to the disappearance highlights a disparity in how mountaineering companies manage risk for staff versus clients. While Mingmar Dhondup Sherpa, a veteran rope-fixer, noted that reputable companies maintain constant radio contact with their teams, the five-day gap before a formal search began for Dawa suggests significant lapses in oversight for some smaller outfitters. According to Billi Bierling of The Himalayan Database, the reliance on inexperienced clients—who are often unable to assist their own guides in an emergency—creates a dangerous environment where the safety of the workforce is frequently compromised.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was Hillary Dawa Sherpa rescued?
He was discovered crawling near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall by SPCC workers on June 4. He was taken to Gorakshep and subsequently airlifted to HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, according to the Everest Chronicle and The New York Times.
What was his role on the mountain?
While he was on the upper slopes guiding two clients during his disappearance, Dawa was originally employed as a cook at Camp II (21,000 feet), as confirmed by his family and 8K Expeditions.
Why did the rescue take several days?
Reports indicate that the primary outfitter, Himalayan Traverse Adventures, failed to notify other companies of the disappearance. The search was only initiated after Dawa’s family contacted 8K Expeditions, according to Lakpa Sherpa.
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