Indian-Canadian lawyer and climber Ajaypal Singh Dhaliwal has scripted an extraordinary survival story after becoming the first Canadian Punjabi to scale Mount Everest and then narrowly escaping death in the mountain’s infamous “Death Zone”.
Originally from Kassam Bhatti village in Punjab’s Faridkot district and now based in Surrey, British Columbia, Dhaliwal reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain on 20 May carrying a plaque bearing Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message:
“Nanak naam chardi kala, tere bhane sarbat da bhala”.
But the triumph soon turned into a terrifying fight for survival.
While descending from the summit, Dhaliwal became separated from his group and Sherpa guide high above the clouds in the oxygen-starved Death Zone — one of the most dangerous regions on Earth, where extreme altitude slowly shuts down the human body.
With darkness closing in and his oxygen supply exhausted, Dhaliwal later recalled finding strength in Sikh prayers and the words of Guru Gobind Singh: “Nischay kar apnee jeet karon”.
Battling freezing temperatures and exhaustion, he attempted dangerous improvised descents across icy slopes before suffering a violent crash that left him unconscious in the Death Zone.
Against overwhelming odds, Dhaliwal regained consciousness in darkness and began flashing his headlamp into the night — a desperate signal that ultimately saved his life.
The light was spotted by four climbers, including Sherpa rescuer Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, who shared oxygen and refused to leave him behind.
Too weak to stand on his own, Dhaliwal slowly descended step-by-step with support from the Sherpa team, eventually surviving what many climbers do not.
Dhaliwal later expressed deep gratitude to the Sherpa community and the people of Nepal, praising their courage, compassion and humanity.
His achievement and survival story has drawn admiration across the Sikh and Punjabi communities globally, with many describing it as a powerful example of faith, resilience and determination.
The dramatic expedition now places Dhaliwal among a distinguished group of Sikh Everest climbers whose journeys continue to inspire people around the world.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
