Ravichandran was stuck in the mountain's infamous "death zone," where oxygen is limited, and temperatures can drop to minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
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Other teams climbed past Ravichandran, but Gelje persuaded his client to quit their ascent and attempt to save the stranded climber, he told the outlet.
Wrapping Ravichandran in his sleeping mat and carrying him on his back, Gelje brought the climber down to Everest's Camp 4, where other sherpas eventually assisted him.
It was a feat in itself — Gelje descended 1,900 feet at extreme altitude in six hours, all while carrying another man.
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Upon recovery, Ravichandran returned to Malaysia and went on national TV in early June to speak about the daring rescue. The climber has summitted Everest at least three times, and lost eight fingers to frostbite in 2022.
"I am alive today, because I had the best and dedicated Partners — The 14th peaks Expedition Co and Global Rescue Ins," he wrote.
People subsequently flooded Ravichandran's posts with negative comments, blasting him for failing to recognize the sherpa who carried him solo to Camp 4.
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"Hope you'll be donating all profits to the Sherpa who saved you," wrote one commenter.
"You're alive thanks to a sherpa," wrote another.
And on almost allofhisrecentposts, Ravichandran was accused by commenters of initially blocking Gelje on Instagram.
Insider could not independently verify this claim. The climber was following Gelje's account as of Monday, and it's not clear if he previously blocked the mountain guide. However, Gelje shared an Instagram story on Tuesday that claimed Ravichandran had blocked him.
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14th Peaks Expedition also took part in the rescue, though its team only reached Ravichandran later — after Gelje had carried the Malaysian to Camp 4 on his own.
Gelje runs the company AGA Adventures and does not work for 14th Peaks Expedition. The company's co-founder, Adriana Brownlee, confirmed with Insider that he neither works with nor for Ravichandran.
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After receiving waves of negative comments, Ravichandran eventually acknowledged Gelje in a list of sherpas who pitched in to rescue him. However, he credited Gelje under his partner organization.
On his part, Gelje thanked Ravichandran on Sunday evening for mentioning him in the post. "Thank you, hope you are recovering well," the sherpa commented.
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Insider reached out to Gelje via his company and personal social media for comment on Ravichandran's interactions with him. Brownlee, Gelje's business partner, responded that the sherpa hoped the situation would "cool off."
The 14th Peaks Expedition did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. Ravichandran did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
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