A Google executive has been confirmed dead in an avalanche at Mount Everest triggered by a massive magnitude-7.8 earthquake in Nepal, the Mountain View internet company said. Google issued a statement Saturday confirming the death of Google "X" privacy executive Dan Fredinburg.
"Sadly, we lost one of our own in this tragedy," the statement said in part. "Dan Fredinburg a long-time member of the Privacy organization in Mountain View, was in Nepal with three other Googlers, hiking Mount Everest. He has passed away. The other three Googlers with him are safe and we are working to get them home quickly."
Fredinburg's sister had posted on his Instagram Saturday that the 33-year-old had died.
Actress Sophia Bush dated the exec from 2013 to 2014. She posted on instagram that the loss has left her with "no adequate words."
According to the San Jose Mercury News, Fredinburg was climbing with three other Google employees. The three were found safe, according to Google.
An official with Nepal's mountaineering department, Gyanendra Shretha, said the bodies of eight people had been recovered and an unknown number remain missing or injured. An army spokesman said 18 bodies had been found by an Indian army mountaineering team, according to Reuters. NBC News has not immediately confirmed this number.
Poster Comment:
According to Fox News, "KATHMANDU REGION HIT WITH MAGNITUDE 6.7 AFTERSHOCK" Nothing follows.