'It was terrifying but I'm one of the lucky ones'

WIRRAL WOMAN CAUGHT IN FREAK BLIZZARD ON EVEREST TREK

- By MEGAN BANNER

A WOMAN stranded over 5,000m above sea level as 70mph winds struck has described the 'terrifying' moment a freak blizzard hit.

Carly Hudson, from Moreton, told the ECHO she was one of the 'lucky ones' who managed to 'power' through and escape with her life.

The incident happened as Storm Amy was battering Merseyside last weekend, but Carly, 45, was a long way from home as she in fact up Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, in Tibet, when disaster struck. The blizzard trapped hundreds of hikers on and near the famous mountain.

Carly recalled seeing circling rescue helicopters for days after the storm hit, searching for stranded hikers.

Carly, who was doing the climb with five other women (Gina Atkinson, Michelle O'Dwyer, Thea Davies, Leela Bassi and Faye Wood) to raise money for Poppy Factory, a charity that supports veterans.