Agence France-Presse’s Nepal bureau chief Ammu Kannampilly was at Everest base camp on Saturday when an avalanche cascaded down the mountain, flattening everything in its path.
Eighteen people are so far known to have died in the Everest tragedy, which comes barely a year after the death of 16 sherpa guides in an avalanche that had been the worst disaster in Everest’s history.
Kannampilly talked to survivors about their experiences when part of the camp was obliterated, and how they coped with the aftermath.
Photo: AFP
MOUNTAIN’S MESSAGE
Still incredulous at surviving being flattened by a massive wall of snow, George Foulsham says the latest disaster on Everest felt like a message from the mountain that “it’s not meant to be climbed for now.”
Like many of the climbers, Foulsham had returned to base camp for a second shot at the summit of the world’s highest mountain after last year’s climbing season was canceled for the first time ever.
Photo:AFP
Speaking at base camp, the 38-year-old marine biologist recounted the moment that he was knocked off his feet by what he called “a 50-story building of white.”
“I ran and it just flattened me. I tried to get up and it flattened me again. I couldn’t breathe, I thought I was dead,” the Singapore-based Foulsham said. “When I finally stood up, I couldn’t believe it passed me over and I was almost untouched.”
As he and his fellow climbers awaited an airlift off Everest, Foulsham conceded that his dream may now never come true.
Photo: AFP
“I saved for years to climb Everest, [but] it feels like the mountain is saying it’s not meant to be climbed for now,” he said. “It’s too much of a coincidence to see this twice in two years.”
Ellen Gallant, a US climber and cardiologist, described how she had tried to help those who were injured, but was unable to save one victim who died before her eyes.
“I was outside, saw this huge blast cloud coming down,” she said.
“I ran into the tent, threw myself on the floor. When the vibration stopped, I went out and radioed over to the medical tent. They asked me and an Indian climber [a doctor in the Indian army] to take care of head injuries,” she said. “We worked through the night, doing rounds, handing out medication, putting in IVs [intravenous drips].
“Of the nine patients, one of them died last night — a 25-year-old sherpa. His blood pressure had fallen — there was nothing we could do,” she said.
“Around 6am, we heard helicopters and we knew we would make it out of the woods. We were able to send the eight out,” she said. “When you go to medical school, you learn to focus on the task at hand. But now that things have settled down, it’s hit me hard.
“That young man who died in front of me — a 25-year-old shouldn’t have to die,” Gallant said.
TENTS WENT FLYING
Kanchaman Tamang, a Nepalese cook who was working for the Jagged Globe group, said the latest tragedy was particularly painful coming so soon after last year’s deaths.
“I was in the dining tent when the avalanche hit — it sent the tent flying,” the 40-year-old said.
“After last year’s avalanche, I never worried about coming back — I told my family I work at base camp and it’s safe, not like the icefall,” he said.
“The season is over — the route has been destroyed, icefall ladders are broken,” Tamang said. “I don’t think I will come back next year — this mountain means too much pain.”
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