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)
Hell, if your going to climb Everest by using ladders, placed by someone else no less, why not just build an escalator to the top and call it even?
On a more serious note, I wonder what the relative sense of accomplishment would be for, the individual who decided to stop and wait for their comrades to return from the summit so as to offer comfort to the dying man, as compared with those who reached the top of Everest?
I wonder whom the man's family would view as the greater adventurer?
I wonder whom I would be proud to call my friend?