Nepal: In a remarkable survival story from the slopes of Mount Everest, veteran Nepali guide Dawa Sherpa was found alive six days after he disappeared during a descent from the world's highest peak.

The 52-year-old guide went missing on May 29 while returning from Camp IV with a European climber. Search teams initially looked for him between Camp III and Camp IV, but after days without any trace, hopes of finding him alive had largely faded. His family had even begun preparations for his last rites after assuming he had died in the harsh conditions of Everest.

Found crawling near base camp

The breakthrough came on June 4 when members of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee spotted a man crawling near Everest Base Camp. The team rushed to assist him and arranged for his evacuation by helicopter to a hospital in Kathmandu.

According to expedition officials, Dawa Sherpa survived nearly a week alone on the mountain without food, water or supplemental oxygen while navigating the dangerous Khumbu Icefall. He is currently receiving treatment for frostbite and other health complications but is reported to be conscious and able to communicate with family members.

The news stunned his relatives, who initially struggled to believe reports that he had been found alive. His daughter said the family only became convinced after receiving photographs confirming his identity.

His wife revealed that the family had already begun religious prayers associated with last rites after losing hope of his return. The unexpected rescue transformed grief into celebration as relatives gathered to welcome the news.

Climber recounts final moments before disappearance

Former British Royal Marine Chris Thrall, whom Dawa Sherpa was guiding, later described the difficult conditions on the mountain. According to Thrall, Sherpa stopped briefly to rest during the descent and encouraged him to continue ahead.

As Thrall descended, he encountered another climber suffering from oxygen depletion and frostbite and chose to assist him. The severe weather and difficult terrain turned what would normally be a two-hour descent into an eleven-hour ordeal.

More than 1,000 climbers reached the summit of Everest during the season, but Dawa Sherpa's survival has become one of the most remarkable stories to emerge from the mountain this year.

Having endured six days in one of the world's most hostile environments without basic supplies, his rescue is being described by climbers and expedition operators as nothing short of extraordinary.