Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
The partner of the British hiker who vanished in the Pyrenees has said there has been a “terrifying development” and that it no longer seems likely that she is still on the mountain.
Dan Colegate, who is the partner of missing Esther Dingley, said on the Facebook page where the couple share their trips that the search is likely to be wound down and the case is going to be handed over to what he described as a “specialised judicial unit” based in France.
French officials started scaling back yesterday as the focus moved over the border to Spain, and after today it is likely that the Spanish authorities will also scale down the search when fresh snow falls leaving little hope of finding the Brit alive.
The search parties are also using a helicopter in the hunt for Esther Maria Dingley, 37, who also has Dutch nationality, after the search started in Pico Salvaguardia in the Spanish Basque Country, the place where she reportedly communicated with her partner for the last time on 25th November.
The search party has started again today (Wednesday) in the nearby valleys of the place where she was believed to be last time anybody heard from her, the Spanish Civil Guard spokeswoman reported to Newsflash.
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The weather conditions are currently fine but according to the spokeswoman, the weather will get worse in weekend, with probably snow and rain storms.
Her partner said in a heartfelt post on social media: “It’s very difficult to say this, but another day has ended with no trace at all of Esther. I did have a big long update in mind addressing various things, but the key point I think is this.
“For several days now there has been talk that perhaps Esther might not be up there and that this was the reason they couldn’t find her.
“Because the weather window is closing fast, with snow tonight and more expected, the search and rescue teams obviously had to prioritise the search on the ground.
“They’ve gone over and over and over the trails in the area. They’ve used helicopters, dogs, a drone, and lots of people. I’m very grateful for the effort they’ve put in on both sides of the border and for the way both teams have kept me honestly informed of their progress and expectations.”
He added: “I have great respect for the work they’ve done having walked many of the trails myself as well.”
Colegate continued: “However, with no result day after day, taking into account Esther’s high level of experience, the nature of the terrain, the good weather she would have had, the fact she had a clearly defined route for Sunday evening and Monday, and various other factors, both search coordinators have essentially told me that although they can never be 100 percent sure, the prevailing opinion in the search teams is that she isn’t there.
“If she had fallen from one of the paths, they really would have expected to find her given the intensity, the closeness of the search, and the fact most of the trails are really quite straightforward across open ground.
“As things stand tonight, Esther is now listed as a national missing persons case in Spain and the case has been passed to a specialised judicial unit in France. This means they will be looking at other options beyond a mountain accident.
“While this is a terrifying development in many ways, I’m trying to focus on the fact that it leaves the door open that Esther might still come home.
“She was so utterly happy and joyful when we last spoke, I’d do anything to see her face and hold her right now.”
Mountain rescue teams from the towns of Benasque, Boltana, Huesca and Jaca are taking part in the operation along with the French Gendarmerie.
Dingley was supposed to arrive back in Benasque in the northern Spanish province of Huesca near the Pyrenees on 25th November after doing a circular route between Spain and France.
She is 1.70 metres tall (5’ 5”), weighs 60 kilogrammes (9.4 stone) and is blonde with brown eyes.
The last time she was seen she was wearing black leggings, mountain boots, and a shirt.
Dan and Esther have been travelling around Europe in a camper van since 2014 after Dan nearly died from a flesh-eating disease.
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