Fay Manners, a British climber who recently encountered a frightening ordeal in the Himalayas, opened up about her emotions after surviving two days in perilous conditions. Hailing from Bedfordshire, Manners and her American climbing partner, Michelle Dvorak, found themselves stranded on Chaukhamba Mountain in northern India when the rope lifting their supplies snapped, leaving them without food or essential gear.
In a candid interview with the BBC, Manners recounted their terrifying experience at an altitude exceeding 20,000 feet. “We sent out an emergency message, but for a while, search and rescue teams couldn’t find us,” she said, expressing immense relief when rescuers finally located them after the two attempted a risky descent on their own.
Manners, now an experienced alpinist living in Chamonix, France, described the moment when the rope was severed by falling rocks. “I felt sheer despair as I watched our bags roll down the mountain. I immediately grasped the severity of the situation—we were left without safety equipment, without a tent, and we had no way to melt snow for water or warm clothes for the night,” she explained.
Despite the grim circumstances, they managed to send a text to emergency services to initiate a rescue. As snowfall made conditions even more perilous, they took refuge on a ledge, sharing the only sleeping bag available. “I was shaking uncontrollably from hypothermia, and my body was running out of energy,” Manners admitted.
The next morning, as a helicopter attempted to locate them, poor weather hampered the efforts. “They tried, but with the brutal conditions, they just couldn’t reach us,” she recalled. After enduring another grueling night with limited food and minimal water, the women realized they had to attempt a descent on their own, understanding that a timely rescue was unlikely.
After navigating the treacherous terrain, they stumbled upon a group of French climbers who had heard about their plight. “When I saw them, I cried with relief knowing we might survive,” Manners highlighted, noting that these climbers provided essential support and supplies.
Reflecting on her harrowing experience, Manners stated, “We were incredibly lucky. Without their help, we could have faced a devastating outcome.” This adventure, filled with unimaginable challenges, has only heightened her commitment to inspiring women to pursue alpinism and mountaineering.
Manners wrapped up the interview by sharing that after such an intense experience, she and Dvorak plan to indulge in some local Indian cuisine before heading home to reunite with their loved ones.
