‘Everest Rescue’ Follows An Elite Band Of Helicopter Pilots On Their Daring And Dangerous Missions

Despite the dangerous and often deadly trek, hundreds of climbers and Sherpas attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest every year. For every 10 people who do manage to overcome all the obstacles to reach the top, unfortunately, one person will die trying. The Futon Critic noted that when anyone gets into trouble on Everest Rescue, whether it’s in a neighboring village or on the treacherous slopes of Everest, some of the world’s most elite helicopter pilots spring into action.

“People die in the mountains all the time,” states Siddartha Gurung, who is one of the most experienced Nepalese pilots on Everest Rescue.

As he scrambles to render aid to a young woman who has just given birth he says, “It’s a part of life for us, part of our work.”

Gurung goes on to say that when the missions are successful, especially in the remote villages it “…feels very fulfilling. It’s normal people you are helping.”

According to Red Carpet Crash, conducting helicopter rescues on Everest is not only extremely dangerous but for the pilots of Everest Rescue, it can also feel like they’re on an emotional roller coaster, which can have an impact on their personal lives. Among the other pilots featured in Everest Rescue is veteran Jason Laing (New Zealand), and rookies Ryan Skorecki (America), and Lorenz Nufer (Switzerland). Everest Rescue is a six-part series will feature the pilots on Everest Rescue as they handle emergency calls during the 2016 climbing season, and viewers will get to know them even better through interviews with both the pilots and their family members.

Many of these Everest Rescue pilots feed off of the adrenaline and adventure. As climbing season begins on Everest Rescue, Laing is in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu with his partner, Robyn, and their 1-year-old daughter, Tara. Laing explains how he has “…always been looking for challenges, things off the beaten track.” His passion fuels his desire to help save people he has never met on Everest Rescue.

Even when flying a B3 helicopter, which is featured in the Everest Rescue series and is a machine designed for high altitudes, there is still very little room for error. As an Everest Rescue pilot, Ryan Skorecki reveals that he has a huge fear of just simply landing the aircraft safely.

“Just because you can fly at that altitude does not mean you can land at that altitude,” explains Skorecki.

“You are sent out there to try and help someone out and if you have a problem, not only do you not help that person you have created an even bigger problem.”

Shot over a three-day time span and using rigged VR cameras on helicopters, viewers will be transported to the very mountain where Sir Edmund Hilary and his team first took those historic strides up the Southern Face of Everest all the way up to the summit. Everest Rescue will follow each pilot and his team as they conduct what can be described as extremely challenging and nail-biting missions while they work to save stranded climbers as well as men and women from the villages that surround Everest.

Broadway World noted that in Everest Rescue, Laing and his fellow pilots work to save a group of climbers in one of the most remote areas of the mountains. It is a difficult place to reach by helicopter because of the ever-changing weather patterns and as darkness approaches, Laing explains that he tries to put his emotions aside, but that it’s not an easy thing to do. As the mountain grows dark, he can’t help but worry that the climbers they are trying to reach will not make it through the night.

Will you be checking out this intense new series? Leave your comments, thoughts, and opinions below. Everest Rescue premieres on Sunday, January 8 at 9 p.m. ET on the Discovery Channel. Everest Rescue will then air every Sunday except for February 5 and will conclude on February 19. Additionally, there will be virtual reality extras available on DiscoveryVR.com.

[Featured Image by Discovery]