Global News Podcast - The Happy Pod: Surviving six days alone on Everest

Episode Date: June 13, 2026

We hear from the man who survived for nearly a week on one of the most dangerous parts of Mount Everest with little food, no water and few supplies. Dawa Sherpa became separated from his group after running out of oxygen during bad weather and his family had begun mourning his death. But, after six days, he was found by a cleaning crew, crawling and sliding his way back to base camp.Also: The teenager who was surprised to find his exam paper included a poem he'd inspired. It had been written by his mum several years earlier. How an art student from Germany ended up in charge of a Swedish island. The US singer Barry Manilow returns to the stage after overcoming lung cancer. Plus the boy who can impersonate the calls of more than a hundred birds; and the mysterious knitted toys that have been popping up around an English village. Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.(Photo: Dawa Sherpa arriving at a hospital in Kathmandu. Credit: Reuters)Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. What do Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney? YouTube megastar, Mr Beast, and former Facebook executive Cheryl Sandberg, all have in common. They're all being discussed in the new season of Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast which explores the lives and fortunes of the world's super rich. That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, search for Good Bad Billionaire wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

This is the house. Happy Pod from the BBC World Service. I'm Holly Gibbs and in this edition, a remarkable survival. I didn't think I would be alive. I thought I would perish this way. As the oxygen ran out, I couldn't walk. I didn't eat anything for the first two days. Then I began chewing ice. The man who spent six days alone on Mount Everest. Also on this podcast, how one mother's poem to her son ended up in his exam years later.

The joy of winning your own tiny island. I think it has taught me to just try things, even if they don't really seem promising at first, to just do all the crazy stuff. How your thing doesn't really make sense. And? It's my favorite bird. They were splitted quits off.

The boy who can mimic more than a hundred birds. We start with the story of a climbing guide who miraculously survived alone on Mount Everest for six days, with no equipment and almost no ship. food. Dawa Sherpa's family feared the worst when he didn't return with his group and started planning his funeral. He was last seen on the most dangerous part of the mountain, where oxygen is limited. But then a team clearing rubbish spotted him sliding and slowly crawling towards base camp. He was airlifted to Nepal's capital where he spoke to the BBC's Kamal Pariar.

I met him in the hospital bed and he looked extremely happy to have new life and glad to meet his family members. He looked a little bit tired, but yeah, he was very excited to talk with me. He never thought he would see his wife and daughter again. He was forced to stay behind after his oxygen ran out. I didn't think I would be alive. I thought I would perish this way. I didn't go missing. I was forced to stay behind as my oxygen ran out. As the oxygen ran out, I couldn't. I couldn't walk. I didn't eat anything for the first two days. Then I began chewing ice. It pained my teeth. I chewed the ice hard. No oxygen, but I had some chocolates in my pockets. He had lost his bag as well. And during that time, he had also fallen into a crevas. This is how he explained how he come out of the crevice and made his way safe back to home.

Then, stepping on the snow, I stood up and looked above. I felt I could get out from there. I concluded that I could do that. Then I searched for ropes. I found the ropes nearby. Then I caught a rope and moved some distance. But there was another avalanche. It was likely to get bigger.

Nonetheless, I got through the snow and moved downwards. I walked throughout that night. Then I came close to base camp. There's a group called the SPCCC, the Sagamatha Pollution Control Committee. Its boys were going up to collect the waste. I met them. They carried me down. Everyone is saying that it's a miracle, you know.

It's been very hard for the people to believe this story of survival. I got a chance to meet a lot of people and his well-wishers and his relatives as well. They were there with flowers and bouquet and they were wishing his spirit recovery. And they said that this is only possible when there is a surpa. They were praising his bravery

and they were praising his will for the life, praising the power of serpas. And also they talked about anything is possible when there is a Serpa alive. And I talked to his wife and daughter also. They were very much happy to see Dawa Serpa alive, but that is still waiting for the answers about why he was left alone. Chris Thraw was on the climb with Dawa. He explains how he became separated from the group. Gower sat down on his backpack as he had done hundreds of times before to take a short rest.

And as I descended the next 50, 100 metres alone, I came across the Polish primer with no oxygen, battling fairly severe frostbite. So immediately my attention obviously turned to the weakest member of the trio. What should have taken two hours? The conditions were so bad. and with no oxygen, took about 11 hours. Complete white out, all the ropes were afoot under snow. We were just, you know, guessing which way to go and that we didn't all end up in a crevacist is quite a godsend.

Chris also describes hearing the news Dawa was alive, one day after going to see Dawa's family. It's kind of crazy one minute to be fighting back tears with his daughter. And the next minute to see him doing, in a crocodile Dundee and crawling into town it's absolutely amazing beyond words

looking forward to speaking to him but moreover absolutely fascinating to know what happened just amazed by it all really how he would have crossed the Kungu Ice ball with no ladders beggars belief that takes it

from a sort of utterly brutal ninja feet of endurance to just something else again I mean, you're talking serious, serious ice climbing. Just incredible. That was Chris Thrill. Now, what are the chances of answering an exam question on a piece of work you inspired?

That's exactly what happened to Emily Cullen's son when he turned the page of his English test and saw a poem she had written about him. Branca Lesser Dissar reports. Emily Cullen, a poet from Galway, had spent the morning helping her son cram in some revision for his afternoon English exam. It was an ordinary day like every other, except with the tension of the state exam that morning

and trying to do last minute revision of Shakespeare quotes. So when she met him afterwards and he looked pleased, she assumed their work had paid off. He had a big, broad smile in his face. And I thought, oh, that's good. He must have remembered his Shakespeare quotes. But it was a Macbeth or Hamlet that had come up on 15-year-old Lee's paper. Instead, it was a poem written by Emily herself about him. He said, you won't believe it, Mom, the poem he wrote about me came up in the paper. paper and I said, what? And he said the one about the chalk. Envoy in chalk was written by

Emily after she spotted something Lee had written in chalk on the pavement outside their home. He was eight years old and the message read, The World is Great. It was just what Emily needed. To bring me back to reality and to remind me that things were so bad and there was beauty all around me and lots of wonder in the everyday. The poem was first published as an Irish Times poem of the week, before later appearing in Emily's third collection, conditional perfect. But seven years later, she could never have imagined it would come up on her son's exam paper. It was just the most flabbergasting moment, I kind of thought it felt like it was in another dimension. Lee had also been in shock when he flipped open his exam and saw his mother's words.

Initially, the coincidence posed the problem. Admit in his answer that the poem was about him and risk seeming delusional, or respond to it as he would. any other text. When he took a moment, he thought, well, the person grading my exam probably won't believe that I inspired the poem and that my mum wrote the poem about something that I chalked in the pavement. So he opted to respond to the question in the third person. Once the exam was over, the emotions sunk in.

Lee asked his mum to pick him up so he could tell her. I got quite emotional about it as you would. And my breath was taken away, really. I was just kind of in a state of pleasant shock. Emily's life has changed considerably since she wrote Envoy in chalk. Her own mother has since died, and she's now caring for her 95-year-old father, who recently returned home from hospital. The world is great.

Those words her son wrote on the pavement all those years ago remain more important than ever. We do have to kind of remind ourselves of the gift that life is and the gift of the wonders all around us in abundance amid the darkness and the dark times. For Emily, there is no better reminder of this wonder than having her own. 15-year-old son, answer an exam question on a poem she wrote, inspired by him. It's an amazing thing. I mean, what are the odds that that would happen? It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime synchronicity, really. Emily Cullen ending that report by Branca Lesser-D-Sar. To the state of Oklahoma now and a 12-year-old boy with a very special talent. Take a listen to this.

That is Samuel Henderson imitating bird calls. He can do 115 different. types. A video of him performing at his school talent show went viral. Samuel and his mother Laurie have been speaking to my colleague Rachel Burden. When I was four years old at the zoo, I started mimicking this great toe greckle that was bothering my sister. And what does the great toe greckle sound like? That is an incredible sound. We have a video of him. And he actually jumped whenever it started talking back to him. It was a pretty neat moment. So the bird certainly wasn't expecting it.

And from there on, Samuel, you began to look at other birds and just pick up these extraordinary sounds. Was this deliberate? Did you go home and listen to different bird sounds or were these birds that you were encountered when you were out and about? Yeah, both.

And also I listened to them on my YouTube in search for sounds. He's always liked birds. He's always said he wants to fly. and was jealous. And then he found that birds were more beautiful and had more elaborate calls as he went along. What bird have you got there, Samuel?

An American crow. I can do the crow that's from your country, too. I would love to hear a British crow. Why don't you do the American one first and then a British one, and we'll see if we can hear the difference? I have the bob to be able to do the sound with it so loud. Ha! Ha!

Okay, let's hear the British crow then. Typical. The British one. definitely sounds more miserable, doesn't it? Yeah. Tell me about how you use your body, your voice, your throat to make these sounds. Because even if I wasn't trying to sound like a bird, I don't think I could produce the same noise that you do. Like the bar owl, I have to notice a lot of air to be able to do it.

Well, we'd love to hear that. Can you do that for us? That's so beautiful. What are your favorite birds, Samuel? The respondent quit, so. I really want to go get the stuffed animal of it. Yeah, you can go and do that. While you do that, Laurie, tell us a bit more about Samuel as a boy then and what he's like as a child and his personality. Samuel's always been very loud, very vocal.

He is a people's person. He loves animals. He loves people. He loves to talk. Samuel, you've got the bird that you wanted to get. What is it you're holding right now? It's my favorite bird. They were splitted quitsa.

And what sound does this one make? Is that you making that sound, Samuel? Yeah. That is absolutely extraordinary. What has been the reaction then from people? Because it's gone viral, not just across America, but across the world, Laurie. It has. We've actually received gifts as far as Australia.

They've sent him stuffed birds, cuckaburas. I feel like I'm in the fall. I'm not going to every day. Samuel and Laurie speaking to Rachel Burden. Coming up on the Happy Pod. I think it's lovely.

They just keep popping up everywhere. It's very community and I love living here for that reason. She's like some sort of superhero in the village. The woman who's been knitting toys and hiding them in her village. She's one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Rising to fame as a member of R&B group Destiny's Child before launching a solo career that's produced chart-topping hits and era-defining albums. And with a business empire spanning hair care, whiskey and entertainment, it's fair to say she's more than just an artist, she's a global brand. Good Bad Billionaire is taking a closer look at the life and fortune of Beyonce.

Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now wherever you get your BBC podcasts. You're listening to The Happy Pod. To Sweden next, a country with more than 250,000 islands. So many that it decided it could give up control of five of them for a year. The online competition asked for video entries and here's a taste of some of the winners. Guys, guys, guys, you're not going to believe this. We are going to win a contest to win an island in Sweden. What are you talking about? They're giving away like five islands in

Sweden and you're just to make a video about it and then you win an island. Do you like Sweden? I was actually planning a trip to Sweden when I learned of this opportunity. What do you plan to do on the island? Just enjoy the nature. I'm sorry, I know that makes me sound kind of boring. That's okay, you'll fit right in. Hey, I'm Miri.

I'm 27 years old. And illustratoran of Dutchand. The last winner there was German art student Miriam Wieskman. She's been speaking to Stephanie Prentice. When I got the email that I actually won the island, I don't know. I couldn't believe it was. was true. Yeah, I think it's going to be really nice. I'm like the official custodian of the island,

but I don't really have any tasks to do. So it's more like a symbolic thing. And the main price is actually a travel voucher for 20,000 crowns, which is like around €2,000. So I'll actually be travelling there with like a really good friend from childhood. And I think that's going to be the most exciting part. So tell me a little bit about your eye. I think all of the five islands that you could win are quite similar in size. So there's not really any buildings on there. So you can't really live there. And I think mine is about like nine kilometers from the shore. So it's not that easy to get there. But people have told me that you can use a kayak or a stand-up paddle to get there. And in the summertime, there's mostly birds living on the island. So I'm going to be there in September now. And hopefully don't annoy them too much. How different is this to your normal life going from living in Germany to kayaking to your private island? It's really different, I think, because right now I live in a smaller city in Germany and I study communication design and I'm mostly focused on illustration right now.

And I think it's going to be really nice to be out of nature because that's what gives me most inspiration for my art and my illustration practice. and I think spending time there and with the birds can be super inspiring for me for another project or like maybe a book or a comic or something. What is it about Sweden or Swedish culture that really resonates with you? It feels to me like much less stressful than life in Germany in some way. I feel like some of the stereotypes about like German culture might be true that it's like really punctual. Everything is kind of strategic and like logical maybe. and it has to make sense.

And I feel like when I'm in Sweden, I can kind of like leave that behind and just having like a more direct connection to nature. And you said that you were surprised to win. But now that you have, what has that really taught you? I think it has taught me to just try things, even if they don't really seem promising at first, like to just do all the crazy stuff that your thing doesn't really make sense or like doesn't really have high prospects of winning.

You've seen the island obviously in pictures and things and online, but how do you think you'll feel when you're on that paddleboard or on that canoe and you see it for the first time? I'm not really sure. I'm really, really excited to see how it's going to feel. I think just taking the flight or like the train, we haven't decided quite yet to Sweden, to know that I'm going to see the island.

It's going to feel really, really exciting. And I think I'm just going to be really happy to, actually see this island that I've talked about so much now. And I think it's going to feel really surreal to be there. And yeah, I'm also really excited to meet the people who live in the region and to hear their stories. I mean, you might end up being a bit of a local celebrity, actually. Yeah, maybe.

I don't know. Like, it's really funny because actually the first newspaper that reached out to me was like the local newspaper from this town. And I was really excited to give them interview. and they publish it. So, yeah, it's going to be interesting to see if people, like, recognize me and maybe want to chat with me, so that would be really nice. And I'm really looking forward to to meet them.

Miriam Viskman speaking to Stephanie Prentice. Barry Manilow has enjoyed a 60-year-long career in entertainment, but the American singer recently had to take a break after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Now he's recovered, and at the age of 82, is back doing what makes him happy. The Happy Pod, Charlotte Gallagher, has been to meet him at one of his rehearsals. The ultimate showman. Barry Manilow is back performing, just months after recovering from cancer. I'm feeling great.

Great. Everything's all better. You look fantastic. It is really. hard to believe that you have been so and well. Were you scared all during that point, or did you think I'm going to get through this? It was a rough ride.

It was seven days in ICU. Because, you know, it wasn't so much the surgery that got me. It was the pneumonia that got me. I could have gone home after the surgery. They threw that tumor in the garbage, and I could have gone home. And it was pneumonia that kept me in the, in the hospital for a long time.

You're facing your immortality and then also I know how much you love performing and you weren't able to perform for quite some time. How did that feel? It was agony. I have no patience. I know the doctor said it would take a while for everything to come back

but it was agony. I hated just sitting and waiting. They really did a number on me and it took a long time to recover from it. It really did. than I thought. Because for Barry Manilow, performing on stage is what makes him happy. I like being with my band and the crew and their family. So that's what I was missing. I was missing this. And your fans are like family as well, because I mean, they follow you everywhere.

Some of them have seen you 60, 70 times. Why do you think you inspire that devotion? Because not every artist has that. I've never been able to answer that question. I have no idea. I have no idea. I'm just a skinny guy that plays a piano. That's what I think of myself. I don't know why I've got these wonderful people that's been supporting me for years and years. And I've met them, and they're great people. They really are.

The fanelows. Yeah, a fanelows, right. And do you still get the knickers thrown at you? Do you still get the knickers thrown on stage? No more. Do you miss it? No more, no. Is there any kind of showgirls or showmen?

out there at the moment that you think, oh, I'd quite like to work with them? Everybody would say Gaga. She's amazing. She's amazing. Absolutely amazing. She is fantastic. So perhaps a duet album, Manlo and Gaga.

I can see it happening. You might want to borrow some of your costumes, though. I don't know. Let's see what this album does before we go to the next one. Is there any chance you could maybe play a little bit of a tune for VBC? What? What do you like to hear? Yeah, Copacabana. Take it away, Barry.

That's right. At the Cobah. I feel very honoured. Oh, yeah? And very privileged. I know there's millions of Fanoly's out there that are very, very jealous of me. They shouldn't be jealous of you, honey. Barry Manilow speaking to Charlotte Gallagher.

We end in the northwest of England, where hundreds of handmade soft toys have been turning up around a village. The knitted teddy's come with a tag signed by Granny H. And for the past two years, her identity has been a mystery. Until now, Grandmother June Rose Hood, is the secret knitter. And to say thank you, the locals threw her a surprise 90th birthday party. Jane McCubbin went along to find out more. I think it's lovely.

I've only been here two and a half years now. They just keep popping up everywhere. I think it's super cute. It's very community. and I love living here for that reason. For two years, these knitted teddies have popped up all over. Little is known about the hands and the helpers behind these small acts of kindness just waiting to be found. Have you heard the name, Granny H?

I have. Only through hearsay. I don't know her, you know. I don't even know who she is. I think it's like maybe not even a real person. She definitely is. Found it. It says, I am not lost. I am alone. If you want me, please take me home. If you would like me, please take me home. I'm yours to keep or give away.

I hope I made you smile today. Granny H. Granny H. So Granny H is... My grandma. Oh. A legend. Yes, she is.

She's becoming quite famous in the area. Famous, definitely. But elusive, absolutely. Introduce yourself. Oh, gosh. I'm June I'm 90 years old tomorrow I just love doing it

She has made And grandson Matt has hidden Hundreds of teddy bears For children to find Something she took up to combat anxiety And it works That's the lamb That's a teddy bear

Dog That's rabbit But until now Granny H has remained firmly in the shadows So you may never ever see children finding your gifts? No. I can just imagine the little faces lighting up. As an anxious person, this helps. It's the best thing I've ever done, I think, for it, yes. I really do. Which ones are your favour? I only have one favourite. And him. Where did you find him?

My right way. They're popping up everywhere, aren't they? If you didn't have it in your life, what would life feel like, do you think? I think I'd be, well, my children and grandchildren might say I am now, but I think I'd be a real old grumpy, but... She knows her teddies have spread joy because occasionally people post messages of thanks on a local Facebook page. But what she doesn't know is that many of them have gathered just before her 90th birthday to have the chance to say thank you in person.

Hi, mum, do you want to come over with grandma, we're already? Do you know what she looks like? All right, see you shortly. Yeah. Do you know how old she is? She's like some sort of superhero in the village. You know, in Facebook pages you can get a lot of negative stories, but this is something that's always really nice and positive.

It's all the kids are following your teddy's, grandma. I'm absolutely shocked. There's a surprise to see you all. Oh, it's been magical. Thank you very much. You're not for me. I can't thank everybody enough for recognizing what my mum does. She's got a heart of gold

She went through a tough time last year She felt very lonely A little bit lost It's changed her life hasn't it? Absolutely changed her life The minute she wakes up She can't get those knitting needles out quick enough I think it's amazing what you do

Honestly I don't think you realise How much pleasure it brings to people I just sit and knit and the time flies by In fact I don't really want to do the housework anymore No tablets, no pills, no medication. No, absolutely. She feels like a different person. She does.

Proof that kindness is good for the soul. And after all that joy of giving, Granny H finally gets to receive the love right back. It's overwhelming and I just don't know what to say. And I think this is the best thing that's ever happened in my 90 years. Thank you. June Rose Hood or Granny H, ending that report by Jane McCubbin. And that's all from the Happy Pod for now. We'd love to hear from you.

As ever, the address is global podcast at BBC.co.uk. This edition was knitted together by Craig Kingham. The producer was Rachel Bulkley and the editor is Karen Martin. I'm Holly Gibbs. Until next time, goodbye. September Sir Paul McCartney, YouTube megastar, Mr. Beast, and former Facebook executive Cheryl Sandberg, all have in common. They're all being discussed in the new season of Good Bad Billionaire, the podcast which explores the lives and fortunes of the world's super rich.

That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, search for Good Bad Billionaire, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.