Nepali mountaineer Dawa Sherpa survived for nearly a week trapped inside a crevasse on Mount Everest, subsisting on biscuits, chocolates, and chunks of ice until an avalanche unexpectedly filled the ice crack with snow, allowing him to escape. The 57-year-old recounted his ordeal after being rescued and treated for frostbite, dehydration, and a fractured thigh bone in Kathmandu, where he is now recovering with his family.

Sherpa, who was employed as a cook at Camp Two by the expedition company Himalayan Traverse Adventure, was pressed into service as a substitute guide despite never having summited Everest before. During a late May summit push, he climbed as high as the Balcony at approximately 8,400 meters (27,559 feet) on May 28 but began descending to Camp Four alongside British climber Chris Thrall, Polish climber Mariusz Chmielewski, and guide Pasang Kaji Sherpa.

Running out of oxygen around 7,900 meters, Sherpa fell behind the group, telling Thrall to continue alone. He remained stationary for about half an hour before slowly making his way to a tent, where he found and ate noodles to regain strength. He then moved down to Camp Three (around 7,100 meters), spending a night in harsh weather conditions and attempting to cook porridge before continuing his descent toward Base Camp.

Sherpa’s communication devices—a satellite phone and a walkie-talkie—failed during the ordeal, impeding rescue efforts. After reaching Camp Two, he found himself alone again as other climbers had moved onward. During the treacherous crossing of the Khumbu Icefall, he slipped and fell from a ladder into a deep crevasse, injuring his leg and clutching a heavy load of gear before finally letting go during the fall.

Trapped an estimated eight meters below the surface, Sherpa spent two nights inside the crevasse with no means of climbing out due to its smooth icy walls. He survived by rationing the few snacks he had and wetting his mouth with melted ice, enduring a period of intense uncertainty. On June 3, a helicopter passed overhead but was unable to spot him inside the crevasse.

Unexpectedly, an avalanche later deposited snow into the crevasse, creating a passage Sherpa used to crawl out after about an hour of strenuous effort. He then followed a rope line down the slope toward Base Camp, where he was discovered by members of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee on the morning of June 4.

Sherpa’s family, who had already begun mourning his presumed death and performed last rites, expressed a mixture of relief and grief. His survival has elicited both celebration among climbers and frustration from the mountaineering community over delayed rescue efforts. The Nepalese government has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the rescue.

Reflecting on the experience, Sherpa stated he does not plan to return to professional climbing but may engage in trekking in the future.