So you've decided to climb Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. As you ascend into the Death Zone, you begin to see the bodies of those that couldn't survive. But one of those bodies shows signs of life, although seemingly incapacitated. What would you do? Most people insist that they'd do something to help; that they'd try to save them. They are also quick to cast blame on those who "failed" (or simply didn't care enough) to help a fellow mountaineer who was clearly in need of aid.
But here's the thing: they don't call it the "Death Zone" for no reason. Above 8,000 meters, the altitude simply does not have enough oxygen to sustain human life. Your body is literally dying every minute that goes by. This is why most of the dead bodies found on Everest are located within this extremely dangerous altitude. All climbers understand the risk they're taking when deciding to attempt a summit. It's not the people passing by responsible for people dying; it's the mountain itself.
There's an unspoken rule among those climbing Everest to put your own safety first. Most climbers pay to join an expedition party led by guides. In those instances, the guide has a responsibility to ensure the safety of their clients. David Sharp was at Everest attempting a solo climb, without a guide or Sherpa. He was alone by choice and at his own personal risk.
"Saving" people near the summit of Everest is virtually impossible. Rescue helicopters cannot fly at that altitude. Everyone in this area is located within the Death Zone and will die themselves if they don't descend quickly. Attempting to pull and drag a person that is unable to move would require others to exert themselves which will expedite their oxygen loss. The last half mile of the summit takes 11-12 hours to ascend, and most deaths occur during descent when hypoxia sets in. Climbers can barely get themselves out of the Death Zone, let alone do it while carrying a body. You'd likely die trying given the extreme conditions.
It's obviously very distressing to walk by people who desperately need help. But the reality is that there isn't much anyone can do in the Death Zone, especially if someone is incapacitated. Basically, if you're trapped in the Death Zone and you're unable to move, you will likely die within 48 hours due to the hypoxic conditions So it's a tough (and heartbreaking) reality of taking on the challenge of Everest. It's not an environment where a rescue team can just run up the mountain quickly and save people. A rescue at Everest's peak is more challenging than reaching the peak itself. The decision to leave people behind isn't an easy one, but it is often a necessary one. That's what I don't think people really understood when they criticized Mark Inglis and unfairly blamed him for Sharp's death.
This documentary shines a spotlight on this ethical dilemma. Personally, I think anyone climbing Everest (including Sharp) understands they are risking their lives doing so. They understand they're not likely to be rescued if things go wrong. That's why most of us regular people have no intention of ever going there.