India, June 5 -- A Nepali climbing guide, commonly known as a Sherpa, who was feared dead on Mount Everest has been found alive, six days after he was last seen descending from the world's highest peak.

According to reports, Dawa Sherpa was last spotted above Camp 3 at an altitude of around 7,500 metres (24,600 feet) while returning from a successful summit attempt. Given the extreme conditions and thin air at such elevations, hopes of finding him alive had all but faded.

Defying the odds, Dawa Sherpa was discovered on Thursday by a mountain cleaning team as he made his way down towards Everest Base Camp. Despite suffering frostbite on his head, he had managed to survive alone for nearly a week in one of the harshest environments on Ear...