K2 is considered the mountaineers mountain - a lower peak than Everest, but the world’s most dangerous, with one third of all who attempt to conquer its summit dying on the climb, it represents the most daunting, and revered achievement for mountaineers.

Jason Black, a Donegal climber, is currently on the mountain, attempting to complete what would be the biggest achievement of his mountaineering career – having previously reached the peak of Mount Everest.

Yesterday Breakfast’s Chris Donoghue spoke with Jason, during a brief window in the weather that allowed Jason’s satellite phone accept a signal while on the mountain, and he got through to him shortly after tragedy had visited Jason’s team. 

Listen below to the full interview with Jason Black, on K2

“We had a tragedy here this morning,” Jason said.

“Unfortunately at 8 O’Clock this morning a huge avalanche struck and one of Sherpas is missing at the minute, presumed dead.”

Several other climbers were also injured in the avalanche.

“We’re in rescue mode as we speak, we ‘re trying to build a helipad, trying to see if we can get the army helicopter to come up ... to evacuate the injured back to Islamabad to hospital.”

The spectacular vistas and sense of occasion can be seductive in such spectacular settings, but the tragedy has served as a “gentle reminder of where we are,” Jason said.

“You’re here basking in these huge mountains, it’s nature at its best, I’m here in the middle of these giant peaks ... and sometimes you forget about the other side of it.

“(The avalanche) just brings it right back to reality ... you’re just a grain of sand.

The brother of the Sherpa buried by the avalanche is also with the team, and was searching for his brother in the snow as Jason spoke to Chris.

“I’m looking at eight, nine climbers in front of me and they’re all looking for this missing climber, the brother of another Sherpa on the expedition, who is scraping away with his bare hands in the snow and looking for his brother who’s buried below somewhere, and presumed dead at this stage.

“I’ve been with these guys for six weeks and its very hard to not to build a relationship. It’s very hard to accept.

"Please God for the family they find his body."

An expedition of this nature requires vast levels of planning, huge resources and deep reserves of experience and bravery from those attempting it. But ultimately remains vulnerable to the whim of Mother Nature, Jason told Chris.

“We are here at the mercy of Mother Nature. We can have all the skills, all the courage and bravery ... but at any second, any moment if Mother Nature decides that it’s game up, it’s game up.”

Before he finished Chris asked Jason if he would consider getting on the rescue chopper and heading home.

“I am confident that if I ever get to a point where thins aren’t making sense I will turn around, there’s no mountain worth losing a life for or losing a limb for,” he said.