Cyclist in cliff death ‘ate toxic mushrooms’

A SCOTTISH cyclist found dead in Italy may have fallen down a cliff after becoming “delirious” because he ate wild mushrooms, his family have said.

Steven Harper was on a cycling trip from Dundee to India when his family lost contact with him two months ago.

It has emerged he fell from a cliff in Ventimiglia, four miles from the French-italian border, on Nov 23.

His family believe he may have become disorientated because of toxins from the mushrooms he had eaten while foraging for food.

His last message mentioned he was feeling ill after making a meal which included mushrooms and noodles.

Dale Harper, Steven’s brother, who launched an online appeal to find his missing sibling, travelled to Italy earlier this month to identify his body.

“The search ended in heartbreak with the discovery of Steven’s body in Italy,” he said in a Facebook post.

“He had enough resources to survive but might have made a fatal mistake with the mushrooms.

“His death was attributed to a fall from a cliff, possibly due to disorientation caused by mushroom toxins.

“I was left to grapple with the loss, the responsibility of identifying his body, and the realisation of his final moments in a place he loved.”

Dale said Italian police concluded Steven died from falling off a cliff on Nov 23, an hour after his last message.

He was seen falling and nearby workmen rushed to his aid. A helicopter was immediately dispatched but he died as a result of internal bleeding from the fall.

His identity documents had been stolen during a robbery while he was cycling in Barcelona earlier in his trip.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man and are in contact with the local authorities.”