Garrett Madison reveals escape from Mount Everest avalanche

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Madison Mountaineering group were trekking up Mount Everest when a 7.9 earthquake struck, triggering a huge avalanche on the mountain
One of their group, medic Eva Girawong was killed while at base camp
Rest of the climbers trekked down to Camp One where they were rescued by helicopter today, after the route down was completely destroyed
Group leader Garrett Madison said he was certain they would be 'wiped out' when he heard the avalanches coming down either side of him

Published: 03:57 EST, 27 April 2015 | Updated: 09:11 EST, 27 April 2015

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The leader of a US trekking team that became stranded on Mount Everest after the Himalayan earthquake destroyed any route down said he felt certain they were going to be 'wiped out' by huge avalanches.

Climber Garrett Madison was one of a group of 14 who were evacuated by helicopter from Mount Everest today after a devastating earthquake caused avalanches that killed at least three American climbers, stranded dozens more on the mountain, and virtually ‘obliterated’ Everest Base Camp.

Up to 3,300 people so far have died across the Himalayas after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the region, triggering avalanches and burying dozens of people underground in Kathmandu in Nepal on Saturday. A total of 18 climbers were killed on Everest, including three Americans. A further 100 Americans across the region are still unaccounted for.

Mr Madison, who runs Seattle-based firm Madison Mountaineering, described how he was leading his group up the mountain when he heard the sound of avalanches on every side.

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Fourteen members of Madison Mountaineering, a Seattle-based firm, were rescued from Mount Everest after a huge earthquake hit triggering avalanches, leaving them stranded because of the damage

He told Today: ‘I was leading the team in the Western Cwm, a valley between Camp One and Camp Two, and we were about two thirds of the way up when we heard an awful noise and heard avalanches coming down either side of the valley. We thought we were going to get wiped out but we were only dusted by a snow cloud.

'We proceeded up to Camp Two and contacted Base Camp where we heard of the awful destruction.’

The group's doctor Eva Girawong, who worked out of Base Camp which is located at 17,700ft, was killed when the avalanche struck on Saturday morning.

Mr Madison said it is now vital that groups are rescued as quickly as possible from the stricken mountain after avalanches destroyed the route down, leaving many people stranded with little food or supplies.

'The route from Camp One to Base Camp is completely destroyed,' he added.

'Trying to find a route back down is impossible and the aftershocks are making it dangerous. The only option was to fly by helicopter when we had a break in the weather today when we were able to get a helicopter in and get out of there.'

Garrett Madison said they were taken to safety today after finding themselves stuck at Camp One

Mr Madison said he managed to lead the group down around 1,500ft to Camp One earlier today after they spent two nights at Camp Two - located at 21,300ft.

He said they had tried from there to head to Base Camp, located at 17,700ft, but had failed because the route down was completely destroyed by the stream of plunging rocks and ice.

'Unfortunately base camp was hit the hardest,' he added.

'We were very fortunate where we were up on the mountain. We lucked out. The base camp got huge rock and ice slides coming down,and it obliterated most of the base camp.'

Mr Madison had been in touch by satellite phone, with updates posted on the company's website. Before he led the team on their treacherous journey down to Camp One, he said: 'We are running low on food and fuel and we have to get down.

'There’s no path or route through the Khumbu icefall at this point in time.'

Haley Ercanback, of Scottsdale, was one of the group who were stranded on the mountain. Ercanbrack, 32, was originally trapped at 21,000ft at Camp Two and descended to Camp One earlier today for the rescue.

Her father, Randall Ercanbrack of Utah, is with three other climbers at the Gorak Shep, a small mountaineering village about two hours from base camp, Arizona Republic reported.

Dr Eva Girawong, 29, was a member of the group and was killed when she was crushed by ice at base camp

On Saturday, Madison Mountaineering confirmed that Dr Eve Girawong died in the aftermath of the avalanche at base camp.

Avalanches were triggered when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake ripped through Nepal, India, China and Bangladesh on Saturday morning. This was followed by aftershocks of around 6.9 on the Richter scale. The avalanche which hit Mount Everest started on Mount Kumori, a 23,000-foot-high mountain just a few miles from Everest, and gathered strength as it tore across the world's highest peak.

As many as 18 climbers, including three Americans, and sherpas are feared dead after a series of avalanches buried Everest basecamp following the tremors.

In Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, the bodies of those buried alive have been laid in the street beneath white sheets. Their grieving relatives have prepared them for cremation, setting up make-shift funeral pyres in the city's open spaces.

Haley Ercanbrack was trapped at Camp One with the Madison group and was rescued today by helicopter

Mr Madison said when he heard the avalanche coming down he was certain they would be wiped out

Dr Girawong studied at Rutgers University before specializing in mountaineering medication for Everest

Inside the avalanche: Climber films as they struggle to safety

The death toll has reached 56 in India, most of them from Bihar state, while 17 Chinese nationals in Tibet also died.

Members of the Madison Mountaineering Group began their ascent last Wednesday after six weeks of training.

An enthusiastic post from the group on April 22 said: 'We have had a fantastic week of training in the lower Khumbu glacier! After our Puja ceremony we spent 6 days reviewing fixed line techniques, climbing vertical ice, climbing ladders, rappelling, and we climbed about 1/3 of the way up the Khumbu Icefall route to Camp 1. The route seems easier than the last few years, however we are looking forward to the vertical ladder sections.'

But three days later, as the group climbed from Camp One to Two, an avalanche struck and the enthusiastic posts turned to despair.

An update on Saturday read: 'There has been a massive earthquake in Nepal. We have heard from our team that all of the climbing team is at Camp 2 and are fine. The earthquake struck while the team was climbing from Camp 1 to Camp 2 in the Western Cwm. There has been extensive damage at base camp and details are still coming in.'

In another post, titled 'Our hearts are broken', the group confirmed the death of Dr Girawong who was killed when ice and rock crushed the 18,000-foot-altitude base camp where she worked .

Helicopters have been rescuing people stranded at higher camps to Base Camp following the avalanche

A critically injured climber is seen carried on a stretcher and being evacuated from Everest base camp

Nepali sherpas and members of expeditons watch as a rescue helicopter takes off with the injured on Sunday

A helicopter attempts to land at Base Camp as it carries those injured and rescued from higher camps

The 29-year-old was the level one base camp doctor for Madison Mountaineering, with a focus on trauma.

Born in New Jersey, she studied at Rutgers University before specializing in mountaineering medication at the UK's University of Leicester and in the Scottish peaks. She completed her studies in trauma medicine at Chicago's John Stroger Hospital - one of the top emergency programs in the country.

As a mountain climber, she scaled Mt Washington and Mt Rainer.

Dr Girawong, a Thai national, was also studying for a second masters degree and postgraduate diploma in Mountain Medicine at the University of Leicester, UK.

The 29-year-old medic (left) was confirmed dead on Saturday after a huge avalanche hit the base camp

Dr Girawong is from New Jersey and is shown at Mount Everest base camp, she was an experienced climber

Dr Girawong was due to study for a second masters degree in Mountain Medicine at Leicester University

Ms Girawong was a popular member of the team and was working from base camp at Mount Everest

Dr Girawong, a Thai national, has previously scaled Mount Washington and Mount Rainer

Officials estimated that at least 1,000 climbers had been at basecamp or on Everest when the earthquake struck.

Daniel Fredinburg, a US based Google executive was climbing with another group, Jagged Globe, when the avalanche hit and he was also killed.

Injured climbers who were part of Jagged Globe have been evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu while those who were not hurt have continued to trek to Lukla, a small mountain town.

The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck 81 kilometres (50 miles) northwest of Kathmandu at 06.11 GMT, with walls crumbling and families racing outside of their homes

Mountaineer reports from avalanche hit Makalu base camp

A third American, Tom Taplin, 61, who owned TET Films & Photography, was making a documentary when the earthquake hit.

Aftershocks from the huge earthquake complicated the rescue efforts on Sunday and hundreds of family members are still trying to get news on their relatives.

Among those missing are Andrew Lamar Goggans, a 32-year-old from Colorado Springs, 62-year-old Beverly Brooks Brown from Biloxi, Mississippi, and 26-year-old Philadelphia man Benjamin Schneider.

A photo taken after an avalanche on Saturday shows a cloud of snow and debris flying towards Base camp

Everest base camp was badly damaged by the avalanche, with many forced to run from falling rocks

Homes, businesses and landmarks were destroyed when the severe earthquake struck Kathmandu and the densely-populated surrounding areas at noon local time, officials said.

Rescue teams continue to search for survivors who are feared to be trapped under the rubble. Home Ministry official Laxmi Dhakal warned the death toll is almost certain to rise.

Officials have warned this could reach 10,000.

It is the worst natural disaster Nepal has seen in 81 years, and the highest death toll ever recorded on Everest.

Before now, the mountain's deadliest year was 2014, when 16 people died in one day.