Sergeant: “I didn’t want to die – I wanted to survive”
A SOUTH Yorkshire Police Sergeant is back in Doncaster following his miraculous escape from the blizzards and avalanches in Nepal’s Annapurna range.
Sgt Paul Sherridan (pictured) was over in Nepal on a trekking holiday with a friend and had already completed ten days of the 18-day trek before the weather took a drastic and tragic turn for the worse on Wednesday, 15 October.
He is credited with helping a number of trekkers to safety.
Speaking about his traumatic ordeal, Sgt Sherridan said: “On the Wednesday morning the weather had deteriorated significantly compared to the previous days and as we started the ascent up the pass (Thorung La Pass), we came across people already staggering and struggling in the snow.
“We continued with our guide but by the time we reached the top of the pass, which was about 17,500 feet, it was a complete white out; the sky was as white and grey as the ground and the wind was so ferocious, you could neither see or hear anything.”
Sgt Sherridan, 49, a serving police officer for almost 27-years, commented how he was able to use some of his mountain leadership and management skills gained whilst working for the Force, to take control of the situation with one of the Nepalese guides, and help a number of other trekkers, who like him, had become stranded at the top of the mountain.
He added: “The snow was that deep at one point I thought I’d stopped breathing. My skills working as police officer in leading people to safety I’d only ever put to use in summertime weather, not treacherous winter conditions.
“After a couple of hours the wind eventually began to ease and on turning to look behind me there were at least 100 people following and coming down the mountain, not just the three or four there had been initially.”
Flying back into Manchester airport, Sgt Sherridan, was reunited with his wife and reflecting on his experience, he said: “I didn’t want to die, I wanted to survive, and I wanted to help the others to survive as well which is what kept me going. I don’t want to be the hero though, I just wanted to go holiday, come home and go back to work.”
“I will go back to Nepal, I’ve always had an interest in the mountains and I will make a point of going back, but on very certain terms.”
Chief Constable David Crompton said: “Paul has endured an incredible ordeal during his time in Nepal but it is fantastic that he has returned home and is relatively unscathed.
“He demonstrated incredible leadership skills in assisting a number of people to safely descend the pass in extremely treacherous conditions and it is heartening to hear that the skills he has learned as a police officer in South Yorkshire assisted in that process.
“Had Paul not exhibited the determination, strength of character and courage we hope to instil in our staff, the story could have had a very different conclusion. Paul should feel very proud of his actions, under incredible stress, and it is great to have him safely back in the county.”