Google executive Dan Fredinburg is among those who lost their lives due to the devastating earthquake in Nepal on Saturday, which had a preliminary magnitude of 7.8.

Fredinburg's sister Megan confirmed his passing in a post to his Instagram account in which she described his death as being caused by a major head injury following an avalanche on Mount Everest that was triggered by the quake.

This is Dans little sister Megan. I regret to inform all who loved him that during the avalanche on Everest early this morning our Dan suffered from a major head injury and didn't make it. We appreciate all of the love that has been sent our way thus far and know his soul and his spirit will live on in so many of us. All our love and thanks to those who shared this life with our favorite hilarious strong willed man. He was and is everything to us. Thank you. A photo posted by Dan Fredinburg (@danfredinburg) on Apr 25, 2015 at 11:27am PDT

According to The Associated Press, 17 people were killed and 61 injured in the avalanche.

Fredinburg was head of privacy for Google X, the company's division devoted to cutting-edge technologies and experimentation.

An ardent traveler (his YouTube page is mostly devoted to videos of his travel adventures around the world), Fredinburg also headed up Google Adventure, which is described as being focused on translating "the Google Street View concept into extreme, exotic locations like the summit of Mount Everest or the Great Barrier Reef off Australia."

Just one day before his death, Fredinburg tweeted an update regarding his trip to Mount Everest.

In response to his passing, a number of technology executives took to Twitter to send their condolences.

Dan was weird and driven and selfless and rambunctious and thoughtful and always going for it. Devastating. https://t.co/JF7pWsG7Wy — Chris Sacca (@sacca) April 25, 2015

This a huge loss for our community & the world. Dan was one of greats of his generation. He died chasing his dreams. https://t.co/zSoInn1kSl — Shervin Pishevar (@shervin) April 25, 2015

"We appreciate all of the love that has been sent our way thus far," his sister wrote, "and know his soul and his spirit will live on in so many of us."

UPDATED 10 p.m. PT to include updated death toll.