A north-east backpacker who was reported missing after a massive earthquake hit Nepal has told his worried family he is “safe and well” after escaping the devastation.
Mitchell Carpenter, 23, from Aberdeen, had just weeks left of his year-long tour around Asia when the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday.
He last spoke to his family the previous Thursday via a Skype link from the Himalayan country, prompting worries that he had been caught up in the disaster that has claimed more than 3,000 lives.
But Mum Kay, also from Aberdeen, has revealed that Mitchell had since made contact to say he was “alive and well”.
She said: “I’ve just got off the phone with Mitchell and he is safe and well.
“He has managed to get to a place called Manang.
“We are all obviously over the moon.”
Mr Carpenter, who now lives in Bracknell, Berkshire, told his parents, Nigel and Kay, he was in the Dharapani area in the north of the country on Thursday and was looking forward to coming home next month.
The former estate agent has visited India, Thailand and Vietnam as part of his backpacking tour with long-term girlfriend Laura Clarke.
Miss Clarke returned to the UK in December while Mr Carpenter continued his journey with friend Joe McMullen.
Yesterday an emotional Miss Clarke posted on social media: “They’re ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!! — feeling blessed.”
Mr Carpenter was born and brought up in the granite city but moved to England when he was eight.
But family said he still regarded himself as a “proud Aberdonian” and claimed the Dons as his “second team” after Liverpool.
A Nepal relief effort has been ongoing since Saturday’s massive tremor with the British government pledging £5million.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue service has also confirmed it is sending a team of firefighters to assist with rescue efforts.
Tent cities have appeared in the capital Kathmandu while thousands across the country are suffering from a lack of food and water.
Aberdeen University medical students Joseph Feeney, from Coatbridge, and Calum Henderson, from Edinburgh, both 21, were also caught up in the devastation on Mount Everest and have confirmed they too are safe.