A DESPERATE appeal has been launched by friends and family of a 28-year-old man from Doynton who was two days into a climb to Everest base camp when an earthquake struck Nepal.

Samuel Bond had left Jiri in Nepal on Thursday with friends Toni Perry, 37 from Sydney, and Eric Schuyler.

His family last night confirmed he hadn't made contact with anyone since he left for Everest base camp on Thursday and they were "worried" and he has not been heard from since the earthquake struck near Nepal's capital Katmandu, at around midday local time on Saturday, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale.

Mr Bond’s friends and family members are now using social media to appeal for help trying to trace his whereabouts.

On Twitter, his friend Francesca Baker said: "Has anyone seen Sam Bond? @UKinNepal Was 2 days from Jiri travelling to #EverestBaseCamp #NepalEarthquake".

When approached by The Gazette, she added: “We have nothing to say at this time but hopefully we'll have good news soon.”

At least 3,617 people are now known to have died in the earthquake and more than 6,500 people have been injured, according to the National Emergency Operation Centre.