Mount Everest climber Jon Reiter describes moment avalanche hit

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Jon Reiter was attempting his first climb to the summit at the time
Survived the avalanche but then helped to distribute medicine to the hurt
Managed to contact his wife Susan by satellite phone in the aftermath
Three Americans who were on the mountain at the time were killed
They were among 18 mountaineers and many sherpas who perished

Published: 13:14 EST, 26 April 2015 | Updated: 02:29 EST, 27 April 2015

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Americans who were on Mount Everest when it was hit by a deadly avalanche have described the moment the wall of snow and ice hit their camp and the carnage that surrounded them during the aftermath.

At least 17 climbers, including three Americans, and many sherpas died as a result of the earthquake that has killed 2,500 people across the Himalayas.

Some people managed to survive, but others are still trapped on the mountain waiting to be rescued.

Scroll down for video

Jon Reiter, a contractor from Kenwood, California, was attempting his third ascent to the summit when the avalanche hit. He described how he tended for the injured even after doctors told him there is little chance they will survive

Scott Holder, a financial adviser from Santa Rosa, California, and Jon Reiter, a contractor from nearby Kenwood in Sonoma County, were caught up in the deadly avalanche.

Reiter, who was making his third attempt at the summit, called is wife Susan by satellite phone, T he Press Democrat reported.

He described how he was given medicine to give to the injured, but one doctor told him: 'Don’t worry, you are just comforting these people. Most of them are not going to survive.'

Saying he had a 'pretty rough day' Saturday, he added during an interview with CNN that he was forced to zip a dead body into a sleeping bag.

She then posted on his blog about what had happened.

'He said that the ground shook for a very long time and that avalanches were happening one right after another on the mountain, ' she wrote.

'We just talked for a minute and he got off the phone because he and his climbing partner Moises are helping with the rescue effort. Jon and Moises don't have medical training but they are acting as medics because so many people are injured.

'He said that most of base camp was damaged. All the IMG (International Mountain Guides) group tents are being used as temporary medical facilities for the injured. '

Jon also spoke to CNN on Sunday, saying: 'We're feeling pretty lucky today.'

Holder managed to escape the carnage - having to leave the mountain with a severe head cold one day before the earthquake hit.

He said: 'God definitely had his hand in my survival. My cold took me out of the danger zone. I guess you could say God gave me a cold.'

Ashleigh Stumler from Charlotte, North Carolina, thought she was getting dizzy as she hiked on Mount Everest, but a guide soon informed her it was an earthquake.

She told WSOC that she was forced to hang onto a tree as the earth shook.

Ashleigh Stumler from Charlotte, North Carolina, thought she was getting dizzy as she hiked on Mount Everest, but a guide soon informed her it was an earthquake

Inside the avalanche: Climber films as they struggle to safety

As she makes her way down from the mountain, she is hoping to help survivors and is gathering contacts in the United States in a bid to raise funds.

'These have been some of the most incredible, strong people I've ever met in my entire life. Just good people and they are in dire need of help.'

Melissa Arnot, who was set to be only the second woman to climb Everest without oxygen checked in via sattellite phone to say her team was safe on Saturday.

Among mountaineers thought to have died in the disaster is 33-year-old Google executive and a former medical student doctor offering care at the site while a filmmaker recording a documentary at the base camp was also killed.

American Google executive Dan Fredinburg was the first confirmed fatality on the mountain yesterday. Dr Marisa Eve Girawong, 29, was also killed when ice and rock crushed the 18,000-foot-altitude base camp where she worked as a medic for Madison Mountaineering.

A third American, Tom Taplin, 61, who owned TET Films & Photography, was making a documentary when the earthquake hit, NBC News reported. His wife Corey Fryer told the station he died 'doing what he loved'.

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.

Survivor describes rescue effort from Everest base camp