Charity trekkers safely off Everest after blizzard

Rob Mason had been trekking near Everest base camp to raise money for charity in memory of his daughter Kezia

A man has described his close encounter with severe weather around Mount Everest in Nepal.

Rob Mason from Jersey had been trekking near Everest base camp to raise money for charity in memory of his daughter Kezia.

At least one hiker died and hundreds were stranded on the mountain's eastern slopes when a shock blizzard hit over the weekend.

Mr Mason said parts of the trail he had walked "just 12 hours before were washed away in a landslide".

The trek to Everest was organised to raise money for Kezia's Fund, a charity established in memory of Mr Mason's 14-year-old daughter who took her own life in 2022.

Mr Mason told BBC Radio Jersey his group were "so, so lucky" after the weather "got pretty hairy, pretty quick".

He said: "The rain came down and apparently there was four inches in 12-14 hours which is not normal for this time of year.

"It was quite difficult for us but we were on the last day of our trek.

"Unfortunately those that were on the first, second, third day of their trek were heading up as we were heading down, some of the stories when we got back to Lukla - which is the start and finish point of the base camp trek - were pretty harrowing.

"The more harrowing stuff was even further up where the rain has turned to snow, there are people confined to tea houses."

Mr Mason said "a real sobering moment" was finding out the body of someone caught in the blizzard had been recovered from higher up on the trek while his fundraising team were waiting to leave Lukla, Nepal.

Mr Mason left a green heart at Everest base camp in memory of his daughter

Mr Mason's group of seven friends were able to make it to Everest base camp and left a green heart, a symbol of remembrance for Kezia, on one of the prayer flags at the site in her memory.

"It was mentally challenging as well as extremely physically challenging," Mr Mason added.

"There are many times when you're walking 10 hours a day where you can't help thinking of why you're there, of Kezia, and things like that so the emotions kick in.

"It looks like when all is said and done we're going to be hopefully bringing in about £20,000 for Kezia's fund which is phenomenal."

Since its launch, Kezia's fund has awarded more £200,000 in grants to local organisations working to improve mental health for young people.