Thurs 3^rd May 2012 Camp 1 6500m

A rest day, but the LAST day up here.

More sadness yesterday as one of our Sherpas has a major stroke on the way down. He’s in a very bad way and is evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu. His prognosis is not good.

There are more grumbles and at least on more fall of ice as the other group make their way down.

Today yet another climber gets hit on the Lhotse Face this time very seriously, in the face.

It takes four hours to get him down and our Doc, Francis, is involved.

The guy has a badly broken jaw, was unconscious for about an hour and has right hand side paralysis.

The helicopter arrives at Camp 2, some 22,000 ft in old money, on the very limit of the aircraft’s limit to make the evacuation.

An Italian pilot, very well known and admired locally makes an impeccable landing and at his own personal risk accepts the semi conscious patient into the left hand side seat (the patient could at anytime awake and act in a volatile manner).

He scoots off and turns down the valley, all within ground effect (within 10ft of the ground) due to the extreme altitude and off towards Lukla Hospital.

I pack, leave my downsuit up in one of the storage tents and after supper get to my tent for 8pm. Attempted sleep at 9am, alarm at 4am, off down at 5am. YIPPEE.

Don’t get too excited, it’s the gauntlet of the Icefall!