A DEAF BBC presenter was left fighting for his life in Mount Everest’s brutal “death zone” after becoming separated from his guide at nearly 29,000ft.
conqueror Michael Woods, 36, had just reached the summit of the world’s highest peak when his dream climb turned into a nightmare descent.
Michael Woods, 36, was left fighting for his life on Everest Credit: Instagram/@michaelssummits
The death BBC presenter lost his guide at nearly 29,000ft Credit: Instagram/@michaelssummits
The Sign Language presenter lost contact with his Sherpa near the infamous Hillary Step – one of the mountain’s most treacherous bottlenecks.
Woods was left completely alone in the oxygen-starved death zone for three agonising hours with no signs of help.
He wrote: “I was up there near the Hillary Step for around two to three hours, completely alone with nobody around me.”
Battling exhaustion, sickness and plunging levels, the adventurer faced a terrifying reality that he might not make it home.
“In that moment, my kids came to mind, and I fought my way back down to stay alive,” he recalled.
In another candid post, he revealed just how close he came to breaking point.
“There were moments during this expedition where I genuinely didn’t know if I could make it.
“Especially after being sick and struggling with energy, but somehow I found a way to keep fighting all the way to the top of the world.”
Woods was left completely alone in the oxygen-starved death zone for three agonising hours Credit: Instagram/@michaelssummits
Just days before the climb, he had posted from Camp Four, bracing for what he called the toughest test of his life Credit: Instagram/@michaelssummits
Early reports wrongly claimed Woods needed rescuing at the summit – but he hit back, insisting he survived the most dangerous stretch alone.
“A lot of the news got it wrong. I was not rescued. My guide Sherpa came back up to meet me around halfway, approximately 8400m, to support me on my descent back to Camp Four,” he wrote.
His guide eventually climbed back up to reach him, helping him down from the brink after the ordeal high above the clouds.
Lakpa Sherpa, managing director of 8K Expeditions, confirmed team members assisted Woods and another climber safely back down.
The dramatic survival story comes after Woods spent more than a decade preparing for – part of his mission to complete the legendary “Seven Summits”.
Just days before the climb, he had posted from Camp Four, bracing for what he called the toughest test of his life.
“It’s crazy to think after more than 10 years of dreaming, training and working towards this moment, I’m finally here, ready to face the hardest part of my life, the death zone,” he wrote. “Whatever happens, I’m super proud of how far I’ve come.”
Despite the horror descent, reaching the top still marked a life-defining moment.
“Standing on the summit of Mount Everest is something. I’ll never ever forget… This is not just a summit for me,” he wrote.
“This is years of dreaming, sacrifice and proving to myself that anything is possible if you refuse to give up.”
His climb – raising for the National Deaf Children’s Society – comes during the busiest Everest season on record.
A staggering 274 climbers reached the summit in a single day, smashing previous records as hundreds rushed to take advantage of a rare window of clear .
With nearly 500 climbers and as many Sherpa guides attempting the 29,032ft peak this season, Everest has never been more crowded – or more dangerous.
Five people have already died in the treacherous “death zone” this year.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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