'If He Were A Foreigner, Rescue Would've Been Faster': Family Of Sherpa Found Alive On Everest
'If He Were A Foreigner, Rescue Would've Been Faster': Family Of Sherpa Found Alive On Everest Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 20:27 IST
'If He Were A Foreigner, Rescue Would've Been Faster': Family Of Sherpa Found Alive On Everest Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 20:27 IST Dawa Sherpa, missing near Mount Everest since May 29, was found alive and rescued, while his family accuses employer Himalayan Traverse of delayed search and files complaints. Paramedics transport Dawa Sherpa, who was missing for several days in the Everest region, from the helipad at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, June 4, 2026. (Image: Reuters) A Sherpa guide who spent nearly a week stranded on the slopes of Mount Everest is recovering in Kathmandu after being found alive in a dramatic rescue, even as his family demands accountability over what they describe as a delayed search effort. 57-year-old Dawa Sherpa was discovered on Thursday crawling through snow near the Khumbu Icefall, above Everest Base Camp, days after he disappeared while descending the mountain, AP reported.
He was airlifted to Nepal’s capital and reunited with relatives. According to HAMS Hospital, he is being treated for frostbite, dehydration and thigh-related complications but remains in stable condition. Dawa Sherpa’s Family Files Complaint Against Employer Meanwhile, his family has filed a police case against his employer, the Kathmandu-based Himalayan Traverse company, and has lodged a complaint at Nepal’s Department of Tourism. They argue that rescue efforts began far too late. “Action needs to be taken by the mountaineering department. It was negligence of the company that resulted in so much delay in starting rescue," Dawa’s nephew, Karma Gelje Sherpa, told AP, adding, “If he had been a foreign climber, rescue would definitely have been organized much faster and prompt, but he happened to be an old Nepali." Dawa was last seen around May 29 near the Yellow Band section above Camp 3, at an altitude of about 7,200 metres.
Two foreign climbers who had been with him reached Base Camp safely as the Everest climbing season came to a close and route infrastructure was being removed. British climber Chris Thrall later said he was forced to assist a Polish climber suffering from frostbite during the descent. “He (Dawa) had been in death zone for 19 hours and at that point, a decision was made that we needed to descent through the Icefall," Thrall had said earlier this week, explaining why he did not go up the mountain to look for Dawa. Dawa was eventually located by a team from the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, whose members were dismantling ladders and ropes and conducting seasonal cleanup work on the mountain. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk.
She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish... Read More Location: Kathmandu, Nepal First Published: June 05, 2026, 20:27 IST News world 'If He Were A Foreigner, Rescue Would've Been Faster': Family Of Sherpa Found Alive On Everest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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