Stranded in the Himalayas for three days: two mountaineers survive through team spirit in minus 15 degrees Celsius at an altitude of 5,300 meters.
Chamoli – Two experienced mountaineers, Fay Jane Manners from Great Britain and the American Michelle Theresa Dvorak, found themselves in a life-threatening situation in the Indian Himalayas when they lost almost all of their equipment after a rock fall. They spent three days in extreme temperatures at 5,300 meters before they were finally rescued.
The fate of the two women made headlines around the world. Not least because of the unusual method in which they saved themselves from death by hypothermia: they kept each other warm using body heat, like The Times of India reported. This, they later emphasized, was only possible because they are close friends.
On a knife’s edge: Mountaineers missing – three-day fight for survival at 5,300 meters
On Thursday, October 3, 2024, the two women, who have numerous mountaineering experiences behind them, set off to the summit of the 6,995 meter high Chaukhamba-3 in the Garhwal Himalayas. But the climb didn’t go according to plan. A sudden rockfall tore one of their backpacks into a deep ravine, along with important equipment such as a tent, climbing ropes and provisions. “We were just pulling up one of the backpacks when the rockslide came and severed the safety rope,” explains Fay Manners after the rescue opposite DW.
For the two women, the loss of their equipment meant the end of their summit plans. Without a tent, food and the necessary climbing equipment, they were stuck at an altitude of 5,300 meters – far from help, in the middle of one of the most remote regions of the Himalayas.
Had to endure sub-zero temperatures: rescuing the stranded women took 80 hours
Although they had lost almost all means of communication, the women managed to send out a distress signal. The Indian military reacted quickly: the next day, Friday, search teams were deployed with two helicopters Indian Air Force dispatched to find the missing people. But despite intensive efforts, the initial search was initially unsuccessful. The dense cloud cover and the inaccessible rocky landscape made the rescue operation considerably more difficult.
Then on Saturday, October 5, 2024, there was a breakthrough: a French mountaineering group, which happened to be taking the same route, discovered the two women and reported their location to the Indian rescue workers. Thanks to these coordinates, the rescue operation was completed on Sunday morning. After a total of 80 hours at the icy altitude, Manners and Dvorak were flown by helicopter to an army base. According to the reports they were exhausted but in good condition.
How were the two women able to survive without a tent or provisions in extreme temperatures of sometimes minus 15 degrees Celsius? This is where an extraordinary survival strategy comes into play: they kept each other warm using body heat.
The Chaukhamba-3: A dangerous peak in the middle of the Himalayas
The Chaukhamba-3, part of the Chaukhamba Massif, is known for its challenging conditions. The mountain is located in the Garhwal Himalayas, a region that has claimed the lives of numerous climbers. The extreme weather conditions, steep rock faces and unpredictable avalanches make Chaukhamba-3 a dangerous challenge, even for experienced mountaineers.
In recent years there have been increasing reports of serious accidents in the region. As recently as June 2024, five of 22 mountain hikers died on a high-altitude hiking trail in Uttarakhand when they were surprised by a sudden snowstorm, according to reports The Times of India emerges. The story reminds us of the case when a 24-year-old disappeared for twelve days in September 2024 was. There was even a hiker at the same time disappeared without a trace for over 27 daysbut could also be successfully rescued.(ls)
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