Google executive killed on Everest in avalanche triggered by Nepal earthquake

A Google executive and self-described adventurer was among 10 people killed at a Mount Everest base camp in an avalanche triggered by the earthquake in Nepal on Saturday, the company and his family said.

Dan Fredinburg was killed in the avalanche that buried parts of the base camp where hundreds of mountaineers were gathered for the start of the climbing season. He was with several colleagues who survived the tragedy, Lawrence You, director of privacy at Google, said in a blog post.

"Sadly, we lost one of our own in this tragedy. Dan Fredinburg, a long-time member of the Privacy organisation... was in Nepal with three other Googlers, hiking Mount Everest. He has passed away," You wrote. "The other three Googlers with him are safe and we are working to get them home quickly."

Fredinburg's sister Megan said he died of a head trauma.

"We appreciate all of the love that has been sent our way thus far and know his soul and his spirit will live on in so many of us," she posted on his Instagram feed, along with a photo of him scaling a snowy slope.