Global fundraiser for Hillary Dawa tops £41,000
An online campaign has raised more than £41,000 for the veteran Sherpa as he recovers from a near-fatal crevasse fall, while the incident renews scrutiny of safety on Mount Everest.
High-altitude worker Dawa Sherpa, better known as Hillary Dawa, who returned after narrowly escaping death during an ascent of Mount Everest this spring, with his family his wife (left) and daughter
PC: GoFundMe
More than Rs. 8.3 million (£41,534) has been raised worldwide for veteran Nepali high-altitude guide Dawa Sherpa, better known as Hillary Dawa, who survived nearly a week alone after falling into a crevasse on Mount Everest, organisers said on Wednesday.
The online fundraiser, launched on GoFundMe after the 57-year-old was found alive on June 4, has attracted donations from climbers, adventure enthusiasts and supporters around the world, surpassing its latest target of £40,000 within days.
Dawa, from Okhaldhunga district, was seriously injured on May 29 while descending after an unsuccessful Everest summit attempt with a Polish client. He disappeared after falling behind as his pace slowed high on the mountain.
He later fell into a deep crevasse in the Khumbu Icefall, where he survived for days before dragging himself to safety after an avalanche partially filled the crevasse, allowing him to climb out. He was eventually found by a waste-management team near Crampon Point and airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment.
The fundraising campaign was organised by British climber Stephen Selman, Dawa's brother-in-law Nuru Sherpa and his daughter, Mendo Lhamu Sherpa.
"It was our intention to stop this effort at £35,000," Selman wrote in an update on the campaign page. "The fact is overnight, as people catch up with Hillary Dawa's story, there has been another surge of donations."
The influx of donations prompted organisers to raise the target first to £35,000 and later to £40,000.
Selman said he had worked with Everest climbers, prominent social media figures and adventure content creators to share Dawa's story, and plans to travel to Nepal to hand over the funds directly to the family.
Dawa had reached the South Col before turning back with his client. After running out of supplemental oxygen, he fell behind the group, spent a night at Camp III and continued descending alone before falling into the crevasse in the Khumbu Icefall. He managed to rescue himself before being flown to Kathmandu for treatment.
He is continuing to recover at home with his family but faces a lengthy rehabilitation, relatives said.
"His recovery is slow. He is using a wheelchair for now," one relative said.
Doctors have advised him to rest for at least a month because of a fractured right leg sustained in the fall. He also suffered frostbite to the fingers of his right hand.
The incident has prompted growing scrutiny of safety standards in Nepal's mountaineering industry. Nepal's Tourist Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Dawa's disappearance, saying they are awaiting a final witness statement before completing their report.
