Missing hiker’s mother: We’re utterly distraught
MISSING Esther Dingley’s mum Ria says she is “utterly distraught” at her daughter’s unsolved disappearance in French mountains.
She broke her silence as police desperately tried to find a breakthrough in their three- week hunt for the travel blogger after she vanished without trace during a Pyrenees hike.
She said: “It is utterly out of character for her to be out of contact for this length of time and we are missing her desperately.
“Esther values family above everything and on all her trips we are always in regular contact. We communicated several times every day. We are utterly distraught not knowing where Esther is or what has happened to her. We are desperate to see our
beloved girl again.” She rubbished claims by French police last week that Esther may have wanted to disappear following “tension” with partner Dan Colegate over her desire to continue pursuing the bohemian lifestyle the couple had enjoyed for six years.
She added: “Esther shared some of the difficult decisions she and Dan would be facing soon, primarily linked to Brexit and the impact that would have on their itinerant lifestyle. But that didn’t dampen her joy for the life they both were living.”
Dan appeared to suggest her disappearance was most likely the result of a crime. He ruled out a voluntary disappearance and said a mountain accident was “unlikely”.
The former business development manager stayed in France while Esther, originally from Durham, hiked in the Pyrenees on the Spanish side on her own,
Describing Esther, 37, as his soulmate he said: “This summer we did a 1,000- mile hike together and we always planned to spend two weeks doing our own thing afterwards.
“Then, because the weather was so mild and she was having fun, she kept extending the trip by a few days.” He added: “She went missing on her last hike before driving back. Our last conversation was totally loving and all smiles. She was so happy, and we were excited to see each other.
“Esther’s a very experienced hiker. – The terrain was not difficult. The weather was excellent. I consider an accident unlikely. The paths near the lakes are wide and easy. You do not fall ten metres sideways into a lake.”
The search for Esther started on November 26. French police chief Jean- Marc Bordinaro said the possibility that Esther suffered an accident is strong. But they are also probing if her disappearance is linked to a crime or she wanted to vanish.
Spanish police have said privately the accident hypothesis is the most likely.