Fay Manners, a British climber from Bedfordshire, has expressed her immense relief after surviving two harrowing days stranded on Chaukhamba mountain in northern India. Manners and her climbing partner, Michelle Dvorak from the United States, found themselves in dire circumstances when the rope lifting their food, tent, and climbing equipment snapped, leaving them without essential supplies at an altitude of over 20,000 feet.
The climbers sent an emergency message, but initial search and rescue efforts were hampered, and teams struggled to locate them. Speaking to the BBC, Manners described the terrifying moments after the rope snapped, stating, “I watched the bag tumble down the mountain and I immediately knew the consequence of what was to come.” She detailed the grave situation they faced, lacking critical equipment, including tents, stoves for melting snow for water, and even warm clothing.
As snow began to fall, the pair took shelter on a ledge, sharing the only sleeping bag they had. “I felt hyperthermic, constantly shaking, and with the lack of food, my body was running out of energy to keep warm,” Manners recounted. Their ordeal continued when a rescue helicopter flew overhead but was unable to locate them due to the harsh weather conditions.
After spending another 24 hours in brutal conditions, the climbers decided to attempt their descent. They cautiously abseiled down the mountain face, finally managing to collect some melting ice for water. Despite their weakened state, they were determined to find a way down. Their luck changed when they spotted a team of French climbers who had heard of their predicament from mutual friends.
The rescuers provided essential equipment, food, and support, which were crucial for the climbers’ safe passage across a steep glacier. Manners tearfully expressed her gratitude, stating, “I cried with relief knowing we might survive.”
Manners, an accomplished alpinist, made headlines in 2022 as the first woman to ascend the Phantom Direct route on the Grand Jorasses in Mont Blanc. She has also climbed peaks in Pakistan and Greenland over the past year. After the ordeal, she aims to inspire more women to pursue alpinism and mountaineering.
Now exhausted yet thankful, Manners and Dvorak plan to enjoy some local Indian cuisine before preparing for their flight home. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed that assistance had been provided to the family of the British climber during her ordeal.
