As I said, you could be correct. But I remain skeptical. And it appears that I am not the only one. This group (and, I am sure, the balance of the 40 people who stepped over the stricken climber on their way to the top) is in the position, as noted in the article, of "defending their decision," so someone is asking questions.
David Hahn is one of the premier climbers in the word, and yet all he could do is offer encouragement and some oxygen. The stricken man had to be able to move on his own. No other way.
And even at that they failed at the "Second Step".
(His story of rescue is on the tougher route of the North side, 180° from the the route we have so far discussed)
They both then had to be saved by a Sherpa who help Jaimie down by supplying oxygen and a mask.
BTW....here's some pictures of the "Second Step"
From a distance:
Closer look. (nobody tries to go straight up over the "Prow", but walks down and over to a fault in the feature where a Chinese expedition had place a ladder.
And how they get up and over....(I see that someone has now left a second ladder, but I don't know that story)
someone is asking questions. The ones asking questions weren't there.
The ones that were there - more than 40 - all made the same decision.
Given the extreme life-threatening conditions, and the unanimous choice of those there, I'd have to give benefit of the doubt to those who were there.