NEED TO KNOW
- Three tourists and a team of guides were stranded in the Himalayas for at least three days due to severe weather conditions
- “We did not have any clue where to send the rescue helicopter,” one official told the media
- Authorities added that the rescued individuals were treated by medical professionals and given warm meals
Three women were rescued this week after a hike in the Himalayas left them stranded for days.
Two British nationals, Catherine Jane Wilson, 53, of Reigate, and Emily Jane Coates, 44, of London, along with Mary Reape, 65, of Ireland, were named as the tourists saved on Friday, Oct. 31, The Telegraph reported.
The women were part of a group led by the Kathmandu-based trekking agency, Sacred Himalaya Treks and Expedition, The Times said. Twelve guides were reportedly with them on the expedition when they became stranded for at least three days.
PEOPLE reached out to the travel agency for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
“I’m hugely relieved that everyone is back safe. I’m amazed and deeply thankful for the strength and kindness of the Nepali people,” Coates told The Telegraph.
Marpha Valley, Nepal.
Getty
The area they were in is located above Marpha Valley — also referred to as the Hidden Valley, a high-altitude basin in an isolated space beneath Tukuche Peak in the Dhaulagiri mountain range, according to The Times.
Local outlets said the area can be known for its unpredictable weather patterns.
On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Everest region that crosses into Nepal and China was closed due to heavy snow brought by cyclone winds, Reuters reported.
According to the news outlet, the strong winds are believed to have caused a helicopter crash while search and rescue teams attempted to rescue the stranded group.
Ticket purchases for tourists on the Tibetan side of Everest had also been paused on Tuesday, Oct. 28 as a safety protocol because of extreme weather, Reuters said.
There were also reports of roads icing over, making driving difficult in the region.
Prior to the rescue, Nanda Ram Pariyar, the assistant chief district officer of the Mustang district, told the media they had trouble locating the stranded individuals.
“We could not establish contact yesterday. We did not have any clue where to send the rescue helicopter,” he said, according to The Times.
When the women were found, Mustang authorities say that they were “barely able to walk,” but “were really happy when they saw us,” army battalion commander Lt. Col Gaurab Dhoj Khand Thakuri told The Telegraph.
The Times named the Nepali staffers involved as Dirgalal Lama, Nimaraj Lama, Maandhoj Lama, Navin Lama, Tashi Sherpa, Tshering Tamang, Sonam Tamang, Nima Lama, Kaila Tamang, Buddharaj Tamang, Kanchhaman Tamang and Dorje Tamang.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
After the rescue, the trekkers were sent for medical evaluations and given hot meals.
A spokesperson for Sacred Himalaya Trees and Expedition told The Telegraph that help came just in time: “We had enough supplies to last for two more days.”
