Australian Teenage Hikers Found Safe But Stuck In Nepal

The families of three West Australian teenagers were relieved as the missing teens in Nepal had informed their families about their safety. The teenage hikers made contact with their families and ended speculation about their wellbeing after the massive earthquake on Saturday.

Jalada Wilson (18), Raoul Poncin (19) and Rin Hutcheson (19) have been stuck in Syabrubesi, north of Kathmandu. Those three went for hiking there but could not travel any more along the Langtang track after the 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit the Himalayan nation.

Freddy, Raoul’s father, said that the roads around Syabrubesi were blocked to cars except four-wheel drives. He said that the teenagers had been stuck there and managed to find somebody who had a mobile phone which worked for around 30 seconds. One of the boys managed to tell the family that they were stuck in that place but were safe, Freddy said.

The father said that he was very relieved to know about their safety. He called it “perfect” as it had not been easy sleeping since the earthquake on Saturday.

Jalada’s mother is in Kathmandu and is planning to hire a helicopter or a four-wheel drive so that she could collect the teenagers. Freddy informed that the mother was looking forward to getting that sort of thing happening. "She's looking forward to getting that sort of thing happening," Freddy said, "Otherwise, they're even thinking of getting a helicopter ride. So we'll go and see."

Freddy, a Fremantle musician, said that he was looking forward to speaking to his son. He said that he never dreaded that his son and his friends had been stuck under an avalanche. Freddy said that he always knew that the boys were safe. He was concerned that they might run out of food and water.

According to the father, his son had plans to travel to India with his friends. They have been in Nepal for two weeks before deciding to go for hiking recently. He said that the boys might still make the India trip.

Freddy earlier expressed his happiness on Facebook. He posted that the teenage boys were safe in Nepal.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au