San Francisco family awaits return of mother trapped on Mt. Everest
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Two Bay Area families are awaiting the return of loved-ones from Nepal after a massive 7.8 earthquake hit on Saturday.
Siobhan McFeeney of San Francisco is trapped on Mount Everest. She's 1 of 30 Americans at a base camp in Nepal awaiting evacuation by helicopter. And her case is more urgent than most. McFeeney is suffering from a condition that hits so many hikers -- altitude sickness. The only way to resolve that is by getting off that mountain.
VIDEO: Bay Area father hears from son after Nepal quake
Terry Trevino of San Francisco hasn't slept much trying to expedite his wife's return from Nepal. McFeeney is stuck at base camp with a bad chest infection due to altitude sickness.
"Usually when it happens at that elevation that all climbers go down immediately so we need her down," Trevino said.
READ MORE: How you can help Nepal quake victims
McFeeney and their 11-year-old son were on Mount Everest together. The boy returned more than week ago, but she stayed to try to reach the summit. Then the earthquake hit.
PHOTOS: Inside the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake
"As she was going across what they call 'the Golden Gate Bridge,'" Trevino said. "It's the largest ladder bridge they have, she said she held on for dear life."
He and other families are hoping to hear soon from the state department on how it plans to evacuate the 30 Americans who were on the mountain.
Meanwhile, their four children are staying optimistic.
"They know she's safe, in a safe spot, but they want her home," Trevino said.
So is Bob Dickinson of Petaluma who found out Tuesday night that his missing son Spencer was alive. The 21-year-old called him from base camp.
"He said, 'Hi dad!' Those were the first words. And I was screaming! He goes, 'Dad be quiet, I'm on sat phone, I've only got a couple moments. Call my mom, tell her I'm okay,'" said Bob.
Dickinson immediately phoned Spencer's mom who lives in San Diego and was doing a TV interview.
They say how and when Spencer returns is not important, only that he is alive.
Click here to find out how you can help the victims in Nepal, and click here for full coverage on the devastating quake.
