FRIENDS and family of missing 28-year-old from Doynton Sam Bond have said he has made contact.

Those close to Mr Bond launched a desperate appeal to trace him, after he 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 used social media to appeal for help trying to trace his whereabouts.

Around two hours ago on Twitter, his friend Francesca Baker said: "VERY happy to say that Sam Bond, Toni Perry and Eric Schuyler are safe and well in Junbesi - aaaaand breathe.”

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.