By COLlive reporter
Many in Crown Heights and around the world are breathing a sigh of relief early Monday, as two Crown Heights residents who were hiking in the mountains in Nepal and were not heard from for many hours, were confirmed safe late Sunday night.
“We are overwhelmed and appreciate so much the concern, care and worry everyone has shown for us,” Danny Cole told COLlive on Monday morning.
Danny Cole, a father of four from Crown Heights and Mendy Losh, originally from Crown Heights and recently a resident of Los Angeles, were hiking in the area when the earthquake hit.
“We actually did not know the full extent of the disaster until a few hours ago,” said Cole to COLlive. “Communication throughout the Kumbi Valley has been virtually non-existent since the earthquake hit. We have been trekking from town to town the last couple of days looking for service just to tell everyone we were ok, as well as to find out exactly what was going on,” he said, noting that the two had to run for cover to protect themselves from falling boulders during the quake.
At 1:45 am early Monday, Yitzi Cole, brother of Danny Cole, said in an email to COLlive, “BH I can confirm that they have made contact and that they are OK.”
Danny Cole said they are currently at the Everest Base Camp, waiting to be airlifted out to safety.
“While we are physically tired and emotionally overwhelmed and trying to comprehend what was going on the last couple of days, we are also very thankful for being unharmed,” Cole said.
Soon after gaining access to communication, Mendy Losh sent a text to his friend Zevi Steinhauser saying, “We are safe. We had no connection the last two days. Hope to get more connection in a few hours. Phone about to die and bad connection here.”
Steinhauser was overjoyed to receive the text, having waited all day for word from his friends. “I had already decided that if I had not heard anything by Monday, I would get on a plane and travel there to try and find them,” he told COLlive. “People were being unbelievably kind, offering financial assistance and other help to myself and the family for any travel or rescue efforts.”
The conditions are fine at the Base Camp, Steinhauser said, who has since received other communication from the hikers. They have shelter, enough food, and are in good shape, he said.
The two were traveling with a Nepalese Sherpa guide, having flown into the town of Lukla, and were hiking from there to climb part of mount Everest. After the quake, they were unable to continue or travel back without assistance.
Danny Cole’s brother-in-law Zalman Schreiber, representing the Cole and Losh families, said in a statement Monday morning: “Danny Cole and Mendy Losh have been located and are unharmed. Our families are in contact with them and we are working towards bringing them home safely.
“We thank the many people and organizations who have worked tirelessly on behalf of Danny and Mendy during this difficult time. We wish them continued blessing and success in their selfless efforts to help the countless other people in need of aid.
“We pray for the victims of this disaster and for all the families affected by the devastation.”
bh they are fine …. i was worried
I miss u!!!!!!!!
thank -g-d nothing bad happaned
May the seudos hodaah which they will surely make ,be combined with the big seudah hodaah we are all longing for .maybe the earth quake was caused by the livyasan “chapping arrein “its last moments of action,before becoming the tastiest meal any of us have ever tasted!
Bh so releived to hear about this.
So happy to hear.
BH
Tzedaka tatzil mimoves
BH
Let us give tzedaka for Moshiach to come and to thank Hashem for his kindness.
An old neighbor
Bh so releived to hear about this.
This is their opportunity to be Mashpia on the others, with whaterver means they have…
Actually we havto keep thanking Hashem for every minute that we ARE alive & well………
Moshiach now
So happy to hear the good news, was so upset.
Thank you HaShem
Life has Rchl earthquakes. We should all be saved and safe, at all times
Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov
Best wishes for a safe return begashmius uveruchnius.
And I’m so happy to hear!
you are like a good friend
you bring us the bad news so we can daven
and then you bring us the good news as soon as you get it so we can celebrate, breathe a sigh of relief and thank G-d that these dads are coming back to their kids and wives. thank you COL.
Bh bh bh!!
I am so thrilled and relieved for you. Baruch HaShem! Continued Besuros Tovos!
Hiking in remote places isn’t more dangerous than strapping your 4 kids in a minivan and driving on a highway.
Bh so releived to hear about this.
We all said lots of Tehillim, let’s keep up the Achdus!
Look forward to the Seudas Hodaah.
That would make me never want to go hiking to such remote places as I have 4 kids too!
How can I show Hashem how grateful I am
Hashem is great!
We all prayed so much
איש אחד בלב אחד!
Nothing like the Jewish nation!
soo happy
bh
was so worried
Lets not wait for a crisis for us to stick together like brothers. Lets live each other and be like one always.
Chasdai hashem, may we continue to hear more good news
Thank god.
we all prayed so much
hashem is big!!
Bh they were found,great storie even tho around 1200 people died you see how two lubavitchers wore found safe and sound,and even tho we found two jews bh,we still have to pray for around 200 isralies are still missing,and Israel sent 2 planes to go find the isralies we still have to pray for all the jews that are still missing,and that they should be found safe and sound,
BH
good to hear that they are safeOh
Let’s hope the missing non-yidden are found as well.
Prayers and hugs from NJ
BH. They’re safe, and our abilities are now to be tested how far we all are willing to go to make a kiddush HaShem for the people of the world who need our help, in all aspects, in all areas.
people globally are not breathing a sigh of relief. It is great that these two individuals are safe but there are still over 150 families in Israel waiting to hear from their kids trekking through Nepal. So don’t stop the tehillim. We are far from breathing a collective sigh of relief.
Awesome news to wake up to.
Hope the last missing Israelis are found safe and sound as well very quickly.
Baruch HaShem!
BH!!! Elki, so relieved for all of you!!!
Such good news to wake up to!! Hopefully we will hear good news about all the other missing yidden!!
so glad, I am about to cry. Thank You Hashem!!
We should hope to hear good news about ALL those who are missing, not just the yidden.
Amazing news! Bh!!
bh bh bh wow!!!so happy fir them and families, being davening for them!!!only besoros tovos!!!
Hodu LaHashem! We are so relieved and grateful to the Aibishter.
Bh
Baruch hagomel…
BH, I am sure this is a big relief for all the family’s involved.
May they continue on their journey safely and arrive home safely
Bouch Hashem great news
Thank Gd they were found and are safe. Our prayers were with you.
Benny Forer
Baruch Hashem
BH!
A true relief!
And lets hope to hear good news about the other missing Yidden!