A Nepali climbing guide who was presumed dead on Mount Everest has been found alive, crawling down the mountain six days after he was last seen.

Dawa Sherpa, also known as Hillary Dawa Sherpa, was spotted on Thursday by a cleaning crew slowly making his way through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall toward Base Camp. The experienced Sherpa had last been seen above Camp 3 at approximately 7,500 meters (24,600 feet) while descending after successfully summiting the world’s highest peak.

After days of unsuccessful search efforts, many feared the experienced guide had perished. His family had reportedly begun traditional mourning rituals after losing hope of finding him alive.

The breakthrough came on Thursday morning when rescuers discovered Sherpa near the Khumbu Icefall above Everest Base Camp. According to members of the rescue team, he was found crawling across the snow after spending several days alone in extreme high-altitude conditions.

Rescuers transported him to a safe location and provided food, water and emergency assistance. While signs of frostbite were observed on his hands, officials said his overall condition was stable.

Sherpa was later airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu, where he was reunited with his wife and daughter, who had been mourning his presumed death.

Family members said they initially struggled to believe reports that he had survived. Only after seeing photographs and confirmation from rescue teams did they realize he was still alive.

According to mountaineering officials, Sherpa was last seen near the Yellow Band, a steep section of Everest located at an altitude of around 8,000 meters. The area lies close to the mountain's notorious "death zone," where oxygen levels are too low for the human body to function normally for extended periods.

Survival for several days in such conditions is considered exceptionally rare, making Sherpa's rescue one of the most extraordinary incidents reported on Everest in recent years.

He had reportedly been guiding a Polish climber when he disappeared. Earlier this week, British mountaineer and former Royal Marine Chris Thrall said he feared Sherpa had died after becoming separated during deteriorating weather conditions.

The incident has renewed attention on the dangers faced by Sherpa guides, who play a critical role in supporting foreign climbers attempting to reach Everest's summit. These guides often carry equipment, establish routes and assist mountaineers through some of the world's most hazardous terrain.

Nepal's climbing community has described Sherpa's survival as nothing short of miraculous. Veteran mountaineering figures noted that enduring nearly a week in such harsh conditions would be difficult even for highly experienced climbers.

More than 1,000 climbers and guides have reached Everest's summit during this year's climbing season, according to Nepalese authorities. At least five deaths have been reported on the mountain so far, while experts continue to warn that growing numbers of climbing permits are contributing to congestion in high-risk areas near the summit.

Sherpa's survival is likely to be remembered as one of the most remarkable rescue stories in Everest's history, highlighting both the extreme dangers of high-altitude mountaineering and the resilience of those who work on the world's tallest peak. (ILKHA)