Here is from another FR thread (posted by elli1)about the climber that WAS rescued after being struck by a cerebral edema and collapsed only 165 feet below the summit. So yes, it does seem possible to lower a person down these technical parts.
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More of the story, from another source:
... feeling fit, Lincoln had gone on and reached the 8850-meter (29,035 feet) summit at about 9 a.m. on May 25. After some celebratory radio calls, he and the two Sherpas accompanying him headed back down. Not long afterward Lincoln was hit by cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) and became disoriented, ataxic and at 8800 meters (28,870 feet) collapsed. For almost 9 hours the Sherpas tried to help and lowered him down over very technical sections of the mountain. But under the influence of extreme altitude sickness, Lincoln became delusional and obstructive and they determined at 7 p.m. that they could not help him further.
With night coming on, expedition leader Abramov ordered the Sherpas to abandon him and save themselves, so they returned to the camp at 8300 meters suffering snow blindness. Abramov issued the news that Lincoln Hall had perished, and the report hit the wires across Australia soon after.
At 7 a.m. the next morning, American guide Dan Mazur was climbing towards the summit with some clients when they came across Hall who, though inert, showed weak signs of life. One report on EverestNews.com claimed Lincoln was sitting with his legs dangling over the face of the mountain half undressed and without a hat. They report his first words were, "I imagine you are surprised to see me here."
Mazur administered tea and radioed down to base camp. Immediately 13 Sherpas camped at the North Col (7000 meters) began climbing back up to rescue Lincoln, under the direction of Abramov. By 11 a.m., three Sherpas with medicine, oxygen and tea reached Lincoln at the Second Step (8600 meters) and with the help of Mazur and team they began to move him down on a stretcher....
...Sirdar Mingma Gelu and more Sherpas arrived, and brought Hall to the North Col Camp at 7000 meters where he was treated by Russian Doctor Andrey Selivanov for "acute psychosis" and given oxygen while sleeping. So rapid is the recovery from edema after descending, Lincoln walked the last 500 meters into camp unaided. A further day-long descent brought him back down to Advanced Base Camp (ABC) and much thicker air — the best medicine for altitude problems....
Link
30 posted on 06/08/2006 3:36:02 PM PDT by elli1
For almost 9 hours the Sherpas tried to help and lowered him down over very technical sections of the mountain. But under the influence of extreme altitude sickness, Lincoln became delusional and obstructive and they determined at 7 p.m. that they could not help him further.When he was still able to motor himself, they were able to help over the impossible terrain and got him past the First Step.
THEN he quit but somehow rallied (Much like Beck Weathers on the "Up In Thin Air" disaster.)
So my statement still stands....you cannot be brought down from the Summit if you are unable to walk and grasp.
Second point though...I followed the link and NOW they are saying that Sharp was ALSO down past the First Step and that the Green Boots cave is at the start of the gully down and 300 yards from Camp three (an hours walk uphill, 15 minutes down)
If THIS is true, I will join in the chorus condemning the actions of the climbers who walked past.
Sharp on the ridge...they get a pass.
Sharp below the First Step, they are ghouls.