Sydney dad Simon Wilde and teenage daughter Sophie missing in Nepal after avalanche and snowstorm found alive

A SYDNEY father and daughter missing since an avalanche in Nepal killed at least 40 people are safe and well.

Facebook image Sophie Wilde, and her father Simon Wilde. The pair are believed to still be missing in Nepal following massive avalanches. Picture: Facebook

A SYDNEY father and daughter missing since an avalanche in Nepal killed at least 40 people are safe and well.

Patrick Wilde, the father of Simon and grandfather of 17-year-old Sophie, said the pair had called, bringing the family relief following the massive snowstorm and avalanche which smashed Nepal’s Annapurna region on October 14.

“(Simon) and Sophie are both OK and they’ll be back in Kathmandu and flying home to Australia on Saturday,” Mr Wilde told the ABC.

Sophie Wilde and her father Simon, who have been missing in Nepal following massive avalanches, phoned home and are safe and well. Picture: Facebook

The Wildes were originally planning to return to Sydney by October 29.

At least 40 hikers have been confirmed dead while dozens more, including about 18 Australians, have not been heard from since blizzards hit the Thorong La pass between the districts of Manang and Mustang.

A rescue mission on the western side of the pass has ceased but it’s expected Nepalese authorities will continuing to search the eastern side.

A Nepalese Army helicopter rescues survivors of a snowstorm in Manang District, along the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Picture: AP Photo/Nepalese Army

More than 400 people have been rescued since last Tuesday.

Cyclone Hudhud in neighbouring India brought torrential rains and storms, triggering the blizzards.

Several Australians may still be in the region, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said.

“The Australian embassy in Kathmandu and DFAT consular officials in Canberra are working closely with families, Nepalese authorities and trek organisers ... to ascertain the welfare of any Australians remaining in the region,” a spokeswoman for the department said. October’s tragedy comes only months after the deadliest recorded avalanche at Mount Everest.

In April, 16 guides were killed, forcing an unprecedented shutdown of the world’s highest peak

Sophie Wilde and her father Simon are alive after they were missing in Nepal following massive avalanches last week. Picture: Facebook

The Wildes had not been heard from since booking flights to Kathmandu from India on October 7.

A Nepalese army soldier searches for avalanche victims at Thorong La pass area in Nepal on Sunday. (AP Photo/Nepalese Army)

The pair were booked to fly out of Kathmandu on October 25 for Sophie to start her HSC year at Newtown ­Performing Arts High School.

Simon’s father Patrick said earlier this week the pair had allowed 18 days, which was ‘‘more consistent’’ with them heading to the mountains near Dolpa — a less ­travelled area — than trying the 160-230km long Annapurna Circuit that has been popular with backpackers since it opened to foreigners in 1977.