In a recent social media post, T Ravichandran, a Malaysian climber, expressed his gratitude to the rescue team for saving him during a perilous situation on Mount Everest.
However, his failure to mention the Nepalese sherpa who played a pivotal role in his rescue has sparked outrage among netizens.
Previously, it was reported that Ravichandran was in a life-threatening condition when Gelje Sherpa, a sherpa guide, spotted him clinging to a rope and suffering from extreme cold in the treacherous "death zone" of Mount Everest, where temperatures plummeted below -30 degrees Celsius.
Gelje Sherpa's quick decision to bring Ravichandran down from the summit in a daring rescue mission saved his life.
He has been deleting comments not suiting the narrative. Lets see how long before mine gets taken away. June 3, 2023, 11:05. pic.twitter.com/ll6BYwRUSS
— Stupe (@tristupe) June 4, 2023
Ravichandran's social media post, while expressing gratitude to his expedition partners, "The 14th Peaks Expedition Co and 'Global Rescue'," failed to acknowledge the sherpa's heroic efforts.
This omission caused an uproar among netizens who criticized him for neglecting to appreciate the person who had played a crucial role in his survival.
the sherpa, Gelje, had even persuaded his own client to cancel their own attempt so that they could save Ravi's life. Ravi then subsequently did media appearances and ig posts etc and said nothing about Gelje. Blocked him!! https://t.co/XjnWzR8qjO
— Visakan Veerasamy (@visakanv) June 4, 2023
Furthermore, netizens also condemned Ravichandran for reportedly blocking the sherpa on his social media accounts.
This action further fueled the anger of netizens who believed that it was disrespectful and ungrateful to ignore and block the individual who had risked their own lives to save his.
anyway. Gelje Sherpa!!! May you have a great rest-of-your life and may your name and deeds echo eternal through Valhalla
— Visakan Veerasamy (@visakanv) June 4, 2023
> "Saving one life is more important than praying at the monastery," said Gelje, a devout Buddhist.
https://t.co/LbbnUrOS4o pic.twitter.com/Dgb7aWtJpw
Facing heavy backlash from Malaysian netizens, Ravichandran later posted a photo and caption acknowledging the sherpa's contribution.
However, this attempt to rectify the situation has not been enough to calm the anger and disappointment expressed by netizens.
looks like Ravi has since updated to acknowledge the sherpas, and unblocked Gelje... who responded with tremendous grace pic.twitter.com/Std02cBLK3
— Visakan Veerasamy (@visakanv) June 4, 2023
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and appreciating those who selflessly come to our aid, especially in life-threatening situations.
It also highlights the power of social media in holding individuals accountable for their actions and promoting responsible behaviour online.
