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Climbers on Everest poisoned by shady sherpas and exploited by fake rescuers in widespread scam

Dodgy guides and rescuers have been conspiring to rip off insurance companies, even going so far as to spike climbers with chemicals that mimic the effects of altitude sickness

[rescue taking place on Everest]

The scams have been described as "tainted" Nepal's image(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Everest climbers are being 'poisoned' by substances that mimic the effects of altitude sickness and then being over-charged for the medical bills.

Visitors to the world's tallest mountain are being given food spiked with baking soda, according to an investigation by Nepalese authorities.

Ingesting large quantities of baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, can raise blood pH levels, something which creates a similar feeling to altitude sickness.

Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, irregular heartbeats.

According to police, spiked climbers are then airlifted off the mountain, with the fake rescuers charging extortionate amounts to insurance companies, all for an easy payday.

[rescue taking place on Everest]

The investigation by Nepalese authorities describes climbers being spiked by baking soda(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

One reported scam method is to persuade multiple climbers that they need an airlift of the mountain, place them all in the same craft, but tell their respective insurance companies that they all flew separately, and therefore get money back for multiple flights.

In some instances, dodgy rescuers have submitted claims for flights that never happened, as well as requesting money for life-saving treatment given to patients who were not just alive and well, but enjoying food and beers in the cafeteria, according to the Nepalese Post.

One doctor speaking during interrogation reportedly admitted that in one incident alone his hospital had paid out as much as 73,000 to reportedly dodgy operating companies, including a helicopter rescue service allegedly implicated in the scam.

[Nepali sherpas and other Nepali members of expeditons watch as a rescue helicopter takes off with the injured from Everest Base Camp]

The investigation describes how air rescue companies are claiming multiple flights for the same trip (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

My hospital has also given commission from its earnings to trekking companies and rescue companies to promote business, he said in a recorded statement.

There is no suggestion that most of the climbers involved had any idea about the reported scams, nor gained financially in anyway, however the investigation does report that in some instances trekkers may have been part of the fraud, according to the Post.

According to Nepalese police, there have been over 300 confirmed scam rescues since 2022, leading to a fraud bill of around 15 million.

[Everest]

This surely has to be the world's highest altitude scam? (Image: Getty Images)

Explaining how the scams were able to be successful for so long, a police spokesperson told Nepalese media that the scam continued due to lax punitive action" and that it had "tainted the countrys image.

"When there is no action against crime, it flourishes. The insurance scam too flourished as a result", they added.

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