Everest guide survived six-day ordeal by eating chocolate and 'chewing ice'

Dawa Sherpa was spotted alive by a cleaning crew as he slid slowly down the world's tallest mountain and spoke to the BBC from hospital.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsFootball 2026BusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthSportAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifyFootball 2026BusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceIntelligence RevolutionAI v the MindTech NowHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingSportAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesSite searchHomeNewsSportFootball 2026BusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveEverest guide survived six-day ordeal by eating chocolate and 'chewing ice'19 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKamal Pariyar, BBC Nepali,Toby MannandFlora DruryWatch: 'Miracle' rescue after guide stranded on Everest for six daysThe Nepali guide discovered crawling down Everest six days after he was last seen alive has told the BBC he survived by "chewing ice" and eating a few chocolates he found in his pocket.

Dawa Sherpa was adamant he did not "go missing" on the descent down, but instead was forced to "stay behind" after his oxygen ran out.

It had been assumed Dawa Sherpa had perished on the mountain, with his family back in Nepal's capital Kathmandu starting to perform last rites before he was spotted by a clean up team "sliding" down the mountain towards Base Camp.

He was airlifted to hospital in Kathmandu, where he spoke to the BBC while receiving treatment for dehydration, frostbite and a fractured bone.

"I didn't think I would be alive," he told BBC Nepali on Friday. "I thought I would perish this way."