Two directors of a Birmingham marketing agency missed the Nepalese earthquake disaster by hours after winning a trip to the country from the Post.

Sam Hufton and Paul Rice, of Digbeth-based Ricemedia, spent a week trekking around Everest and departed the country last Friday.

Just before their plane landed, the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck, leaving thousands dead and the country changed forever (below).

A friend they made on the trip suffered a dislocated shoulder at the airport but the fate of dozens of others they met is unclear as the world comes to terms with the devastation in and around Kathmandu.

Commercial director Mr Hufton said: "We'd just landed and then text messages started coming in asking if we were okay.

"We didn't know it but we landed an hour after the earthquake."

He added: "I don't think it has really sunk in. It went so quickly from having an amazing trip to this - it is such a weird emotion. You almost wish that you could have been stuck there so at least you could help."

The pair won the trip-of-a-lifetime at last year's Birmingham Post Golf Day with two flights of their choice with Turkish Airlines.

Mr Hufton said they had opted for trekking in Nepal for "something we'd remember" - and in a bittersweet way that is what it delivered.

They spent the first night in Kathmandu and on the second day began a five-day trek, touring with sherpas.

Their group of five included two Dutch men and an Australian woman who was injured in the airport just hours after the two left the country.

But they met dozens more heading to base camps in the Himalayas - many of whom were caught up in avalanches.

The impact of the earthquake on Durbar Square in Nepal
The impact of the earthquake on Durbar Square in Nepal

Mr Hufton said: "The trek was amazing. We went to the highest hotel in the world, 4,000 metres up, and all around Everest.

"The really scary thing was we spoke to so many people who were carrying on to base camp. You either did a five-day trek or a 12-day one, so they had days to go.

"They were headed to base camp and that is where they were supposed to be four days later. They were telling us about the things they were looking forward to. Now, we have no clue whether they would have made it or not. It is pretty scary."

The pair took pictures around Durbar Square last Thursday, two days before buildings there were levelled.

They also shot the structure known as the 'Monkey Temple' but later saw it demolished on BBC News following the quake.

Mr Hufton added: "There was no sense of it at all. It was just an amazing trip and the people were so friendly.

"They looked after us so well - all they wanted to do was make sure we had an amazing trip. Looking at what happened after, on TV, it was such a shame."

The pair could easily have been caught up in the devastation as they had considered a 12-day trip. They also nearly missed their flight home.

Mr Hufton explained: "On the Friday morning, when we were leaving, our flight was at 7.30am and we overslept.

"We didn't leave the hotel until 6am and only just got to the airport in time to get on our flight. And there is only one flight a day. That is how close we were.

"But this wouldn't put me off going to Nepal again. It was an amazing place with amazing people and I wouldn't hesitate to go back."