Mission Briefs: Global Rescue In Action – Issue 59 

Article Highlights:

• Global Rescue conducted up to 25 rescue missions per day during Everest’s peak summit window.
• Pre-positioned medical teams across the Himalayas managed complex, multi-phase rescues beyond simple helicopter lifts.
• Rescues extended to Annapurna and Mera Peak, with climbers suffering from HAPE, HACE, frostbite and severe injuries.
• Nepal’s helicopter restrictions created critical challenges, forcing climbers to rely more on preparation and resilience.
• Experts warn that over-reliance on rescue undermines the core values of mountaineering: endurance, self-reliance and responsibility.

Global Rescue’s high-altitude response strategy is built around pre-positioned medical teams stationed throughout the Himalayas.

“During the two-month Everest season, it’s not unusual for us to perform several rescue operations each day,” said Dan Stretch, a paramedic and senior operations manager at Global Rescue. “During the two-week summit window, we can see up to 25 rescues a day. Our deployment team is active from before sunrise to nearly midnight.”

These paramedics and nurses coordinate helicopter evacuations, triage and stabilize patients, facilitate hospital admissions and manage post-care planning. Stretch emphasized that rescue missions are far more complex than a simple helicopter lift.

“Rescue means much more than just flying someone off the mountain. It includes helicopter and ambulance transports, ensuring proper hospital care and supporting individuals throughout their recovery and safe return home.”

Further complicating operations, new limits on helicopter flight hours imposed by Nepalese authorities made air evacuations more challenging.

This year, critical rescues extended beyond Mount Everest to peaks like Annapurna I and Mera Peak, where climbers from countries including the U.S., Singapore, Australia, Qatar, Serbia and Vietnam were evacuated for conditions like HAPE, HACE, frostbite, snow blindness and traumatic injuries.

Frostbite

Several climbers experienced frostbite, often in combination with altitude-related complications. A climber from China showed signs of frostbite and HAPE near Everest’s South Col. A Canadian suffered frostbite and a cracked rib; imaging revealed an arterial blockage requiring emergency surgery. An American endured frostbite alongside HAPE and a chest infection. A climber from Singapore had frostbite on her fingers, requiring evacuation and hospital care.

Injuries and Snow Blindness

Several injuries occurred due to falls or accidents during expeditions. An Australian suffered a lower leg injury and AMS after a fall at Ama Dablam Camp III. A U.S. member ruptured a quadriceps tendon during a fishing trip in Colombia. An Italian climber sustained a shoulder injury while climbing toward Kanchenjunga Camp II. A fall near Yala Peak Base Camp left one member with facial trauma requiring dental surgery.

Snow blindness affected several members. A Malaysian at Everest Camp I suffered from snow blindness and AMS. An Austrian climber had solar keratitis after being unable to descend from Camp III. An Indian climber at Camp II had both eye pain and snow blindness alongside HAPE and AMS symptoms.

Respiratory Infections

A number of climbers experienced respiratory infections, many alongside symptoms of altitude sickness. A climber from India developed viral bronchitis at Camp II, reporting chest pain and a persistent cough before being airlifted and treated. Similarly, a Costa Rican suffered from AMS and bronchitis after descending from Camp IV. Both were discharged with medications and recovered without issue.

An American experienced HAPE and acute pharyngitis after summiting Everest. He was evacuated from Camp II with others and recovered after treatment. A Singaporean developed blurry vision and facial swelling after her summit attempt and was treated for suspected bronchitis. An Austrian, also suffering from HAPE and snow blindness, was diagnosed with solar keratitis and allergic rhinitis upon evacuation.

Altitude Illnesses

Many climbers experienced altitude-related illnesses such as HAPE, HACE, and AMS. A Moroccan climber collapsed at Camp IV with severe HAPE and HACE. A UAE member experienced exhaustion and blackish mucus at Camp II and was later diagnosed with HAPE and HACE. A Brazilian in Dingboche and a Danish climber at Camp II were both diagnosed with HAPE. An Australian evacuated from Camp I showed signs of HAPE, with a dangerously low oxygen saturation of 49%. A Singaporean showed classic HAPE symptoms and was treated after evacuation.

Training vs. Shortcuts

The increasing normalization of helicopter rescues risks diluting the fundamental spirit of mountaineering — one built on grit, endurance, self-reliance and accountability.

The following case is one of many raising alarms among veteran climbers.

A member experienced severe respiratory symptoms at Everest Base Camp and was diagnosed with pneumonia and HAPE. After helicopter evacuation and treatment, she wanted to continue her expedition. Less than a month later, she required a second helicopter rescue following a fall at Camp II that left her unable to walk. She was treated for acute mountain sickness, lower back trauma and dehydration before being discharged with a physiotherapy plan.

Expert mountaineers like Ed Viesturs, Tom Livingstone and Conrad Anker maintain that a climb is only complete when a climber returns to base camp on foot, barring a legitimate emergency. Alan Arnette and Gordon Janow echo this, stressing that rescue services should support preparedness, not replace it.

As Everest continues to attract larger crowds and higher ambitions, the question remains: is the summit the point or is the journey the purpose?

“Climbers must be prepared to rely on themselves if helicopters are grounded,” Stretch warned. “Training, acclimatization, and smart decision-making can be the difference between life and death.”