Body of hiker is found as search for his missing brother called off
TEAMS searching for two missing brothers in the hills of Wester Ross have found a body.
Police said the body of Alan Gibson was located by mountain rescue teams on Saturday.
The 56-year-old had set off with his brother Neil, 63, and their dog, a black Pointer named Archie, for Achnashellach on Thursday.
But last night, rescuers stood down the search for Neil, saying they await “significant snow melt” to resume, amid fears he may have been buried under an avalanche.
Mountain rescue teams had been searching on the ground, while both the Inverness and Stornoway Coastguard helicopters were flying over a huge area after the pair failed to return from their walk.
Neil, from Nairn, and Alan, who was based in Durham, were reported missing after starting off their walk in Strathcarron at 7.45am on Thursday.
Since then weather conditions have been described as “tricky”, with frequent snow showers.
The recovery of Alan’s body followed a day of extensive searching by Torridon, Dundonnell and RAF Lossiemouth Mountain Rescue Teams, a Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and the Search and Rescue Dog Association.
Rescuers returned to the area yesterday to continue their efforts to find Neil. The dog is also missing.
Police said about 30 members of mountain rescue teams were involved but weather conditions, with frequent snow showers, restricted a helicopter scouring the area. The weather also meant the search was stood down shortly after 2pm.
Inverness police said : “We can sadly confirm mountain rescue teams have recovered the body of Alan Gibson, one of two missing brothers and who failed to return from a hillwalk in the Achnashellach area.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”