AN ADVENTURER and mountain guide from Fairford has described what it will be like for climbers in Nepal after it was hit by a huge earthquake.


More than 3,500 people are thought to have died in the 7.8 magnitude quake, though the tally is likely to rise.


Kenton Cool, 41, of Fairford, has climbed Everest 11 times.


He said that the mountaineers stuck on Everest would be making their way down to base camp and onto Kathmandu as quickly as possible but that medical recourses would be stretched.


This is the busiest period for mountaineers on Everest and at least 18 people are believed to have been killed – the single biggest loss of life on the mountain.


“I was in Pakistan in 93 and I got involved in a small earth tremor but nothing like the scale of what they have experienced,” he said.


“You do not really know what is happening to start with because you’ve got no frame of reference, it takes a few minutes for the brain to kick in.”


Many of Kenton’s friends work and climb in the Himalayas and some have died in the earthquake.


Kenton suggested donating to the Juniper Fund, which helps mountaineers and Sherpas, or the Red Cross, which is already busy helping in Nepal.


Local travel agent Steppes Travel, Castle Street, Cirencester, has confirmed that no clients are currently visiting Nepal and have urged people to support an emergency relief charity.


Managing director of Steppes Travel Justin Wateridge contacted the emergency duty manager as soon as he heard about the earthquake.


He said that Steppes Travel is supporting disaster charity ShelterBox and have sent a message out to their 25,000 clients to inform them about the charity.