A Sherpa guide, believed lost on Mount Everest, was found alive after surviving without food, water, or oxygen. Dawa Sherpa, 52, went missing around May 29 while descending Everest with a Polish climber he was guiding.

The Polish climber returned safely, but Dawa did not, raising fears that he had died. On Thursday morning, a cleanup crew discovered him crawling through Khumbu Icefall, a dangerous section just above base camp. After being rescued, he was flown to Kathmandu for hospital treatment.

Mendo Lhamu Sherpa, his daughter, said that funeral rites had begun when news of his rescue came.

Photos confirmed it was Dawa, bringing joy to his family. His wife, Damu Sherpa, learned he was alive from local news and calls from friends. Dawa, still in his climbing jacket, is now being treated for frostbite and other issues. His survival is considered miraculous by the Nepal Mount Everest hiking company.

Dawa survived nearly a week without essentials, navigating Khumbu Icefall after ladders were removed for the season. How Dawa was separated from his client or why searches delayed remain unclear. Helicopters failed to locate him initially.

His rescue concluded a record-breaking Everest climbing season with more than 1,000 climbers and guides reaching the summit. Nepal issued 494 permits, but five climbers and guides died during the season, officials report.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.