A British climber shares her terrifying experience of being trapped in a snowstorm at an altitude of 23,000ft, fearing for her life. Fay Manners, a 37-year-old woman, disappeared in northern India with her American friend Michelle Dvorak, 31, earlier this week.
The region was hit by a terrifying snowstorm on Thursday while the duo aimed to become the first individuals to reach the summit of the Himalayan mountain.
Fay and Michelle lost their bags, which contained essential items such as food, their tent, and climbing equipment, when the weather suddenly turned and the bags fell down a ravine.
Rescue teams were sent out to find the women who reported that they had spotted helicopters multiple times, even though the helicopters were unable to see them.
According to The Telegraph, Fay described the discovery of the pair as a “small miracle.” As the hours passed, the professional climber admitted that she had feared freezing, starving, or falling to her death.
At one point, she and Michelle were compelled to brave the treacherous glaciers without their gear. The lack of protective safety gear made the ladies aware that embarking on such a perilous trek could have disastrous consequences.
Six days into the climb, Fay and her team found themselves in a perilous situation when a sudden rockfall caused one of their climbing ropes to be severed. They were 2,300ft below the summit at the time.
As their rucksack tumbled down the mountain, the rope they were using to haul it up disappeared, never to be seen again. In the bag, they had their tent and stove, along with packs of cozy clothing and essential climbing gear such as ice axes and crampons.
Both women were filled with fear, worrying that they could potentially fall, starve, or freeze to death while up on the mountain due to losing those items.
Fay watched as the bag tumbled down the mountain, instantly realizing the consequences that would follow. Fay sent a panicked message with Michelle back to the base camp, urgently indicating that they were in trouble and hoping for a rescue.
Choppers were deployed to conduct a desperate search in the snow-capped mountainous region, in hopes of finding any trace of the skilled climbers.
According to The Sun, the search had to be halted on Friday due to the extreme arctic weather conditions and the high altitude.
They spent the night snuggled together in a double sleeping bag, seeking warmth and comfort.
By the second night, Fay vividly remembered her experience: “I felt as if I was hypothermic, with constant shaking and a depletion of energy due to the lack of food, leaving my body struggling to stay warm.”
On Saturday morning, we found ourselves barely surviving the night. Fearful that they had no other choice, the two courageous climbers commenced their descent down the mountain.
Fay expressed her discontent with the conditions on Saturday, describing them as “brutal.” In a moment of despair, just when it seemed like there was no way out, a group of French climbers, who had intended to conquer the exact same route, unexpectedly stumbled upon the stranded woman.
When Palin Clovis, Jacques Olivier Chevallier, and Vivien Berlaud learned about Fay and Michelle and their situation, they selflessly decided to abandon their own climbing aspirations in order to assist in the search for the two women.
Fay noticed a team of climbers making their way up the mountain as she and her group were abseiling down on Saturday. “They helped us navigate the treacherous glacier, a feat that would have been impossible without our trusty equipment, including crampons and ice axes.”
“They generously provided us with their tent and sleeping bags, ensuring our comfort and safety. Additionally, they offered us water and food, ensuring our nourishment during our ordeal. Finally, they bravely directed the helicopter to our location, facilitating our rescue.”
Two women were rescued on Sunday morning at around 7am local time when an Indian air force chopper picked them up from the Panpatia Bank Glacier and airlifted them to the town of Joshimath.
Col Madan Gurung, who assisted in the rescue operation, shared that when he initially encountered the women, they appeared exhausted. However, he reassured that they were in overall good health and condition.
An Indian air force helicopter arrived at the Panpatia Bank Glacier at 7am local time on Sunday (2.30am BST) and successfully airlifted Ms Manners and Ms Dvorak to safety in Joshimath, a town 21 miles to the south-east. The helicopter landed at an altitude of 5,300 meters above sea level, providing a much-needed rescue for the stranded individuals.
According to Col Madan Gurung, who led the rescue operation on behalf of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), the women were discovered in a state of exhaustion but were otherwise in good health.
Fay, a skilled mountaineer from Bedford, is dedicated to inspiring women to pursue their passion for mountaineering. She followed her passion in the outdoor sport by moving from the UK to the Alps.