Rescue and Recovery: The Harrowing Story of Hillary Dawa Sherpa on Mount Everest
A Mount Everest guide, Hillary Dawa Sherpa, who went missing on the mountain, has been rescued near Base Camp after nearly six days. He was found crawling out of the Khumbu Icefall by a garbage management team and is currently being airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment. Photos of Hillary Dawa in Base Camp show him suffering from extreme frostbite on his hands. The guide, who was descending the peak with a British climber, disappeared on the final day of the 2026 climbing season, casting a shadow over the record-breaking season on Everest. Hillary Dawa's family members expressed frustration with the handling of the search efforts by his employer, Himalayan Traverse, who have not responded to inquiries from the media. A British climber, Chris Thrall, who was descending with Hillary Dawa, recounted the harrowing experience of their descent, where he had to make a difficult decision between helping another climber or going back to check on Hillary Dawa. Despite Thrall's radio message to Base Camp about Hillary Dawa's absence, a rescue mission was not initiated until three days later. The tragedy has raised questions about the safety protocols and communication on the mountain during the busy climbing season.