Esther Dingley: Body of British hiker found in Pyrenees by her boyfriend

10 August 2021, 14:18 | Updated: 10 August 2021, 15:08

The body of British hiker Esther Dingley, who went missing in the Pyrenees, has been found by her boyfriend close to where a her skull was discovered two weeks ago.

Ms Dingley, 37, had been walking solo in the mountains near the Spanish and French border and was last seen on November 22.

The LBT Global charity said her body and equipment were found together by her boyfriend Daniel Colegate on Monday afternoon.

A statement said: "A team of forensic specialists along with mountain rescue personnel were dispatched to the site in order to catalogue the scene and recover Esther.

"At this stage an accident is the most likely hypothesis, given the location and other early indications. A full investigation is under way to confirm the details surrounding this tragedy.

"The family remain incredibly grateful for the efforts of the police units involved and their commitment to understanding the exact circumstances of Esther's death.

"LBT Global are supporting Daniel and Esther's mother, Ria, as they come to terms with this news."

Read more: Remains found in Pyrenees are those of missing hiker Esther Dingley, DNA test confirms

It comes after a single bone was found nearby last month, which DNA testing later confirmed was Ms Dingley's.

Her mother and Mr Colegate shared a joint statement at the time, saying they were "distraught" after receiving the confirmation.

"The family would like to express their gratitude to the officers in charge of the various police units in France and Spain, the British consulates in Bordeaux and Barcelona, and LBT Global, all of whom have remained in close contact with us for months now.

"Their continued support and their determination to find answers is welcome," they said.

Mr Colegate and Ms Dingley met at Oxford University and lived in Durham before they set off travelling around Europe in a camper van six years ago.

He had spent months searching for clues about what happened to his partner, insisting the paths she had been hiking along were ones "children walk with their parents in summer, close to easy-access roads".

LBT Global have urged for Ms Dingley's family and friends to be "left in peace" and that "speculation is kept to a minimum".