Police in Switzerland have found the body of a British hiker who was missing for three months, his family have confirmed.
Aidan Roche, 29, an offshore chemical engineer from Middlesbrough, was last heard from on 22 June while hiking on the Eiger trail in the Grindelwald area of the Swiss Alps, about 50 miles (80km) from Berne.
His brother Connor Roche said his family were told last week that Aidan’s body had been found by police near the trail. “The news has hit us all hard, even with this outcome on our minds over the last few months,” he said.
“On behalf of my entire family I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped us through all of this. The outpouring of support from so many people has got us through all of the uncertainty and anguish, and shows just how loved Aidan was.
“For all the messages of support, the sharing of Aidan’s pictures and posters online, and the donations to aid in finding him, you have our deepest gratitude. All of this helped to bring him home to us. Thank you so much.”
Roche had been on the 12th day of a two-week camping trip and is believed to have been walking back to his caravan after visiting a glacier when he disappeared.
A fundraising appeal raised nearly £32,000 to help pay for an advertising campaign to help generate new leads for the Swiss authorities in the search. It also helped pay for the use of a helicopter used by the search team.
Relatives and friends shared his last videos in the hope someone would recognise the people he was with.
His friend Beth Taylor said: “He’d never just disappear like this. There isn’t a day goes by normally without him making contact with friends and family, sharing pictures or videos. We’re part of a massive group of really close friends – he wouldn’t just randomly go missing.”
