British doctor missing in Pyrenees texted family begging for help after fall
A retired British doctor missing in the French Pyrenees texted his family begging for “help” after he fell over and could not move on a hiking trip.
The family of Tom Doherty, 67, said they lost contact with him on Tuesday evening as they issued an urgent appeal.
Mr Doherty, from St Albans, in Herts, was hiking and camping near Col d’Escots when he texted: “I’ve fallen and cannot [m]ove”.
His daughter, Rachel Doherty, said a search party has recovered his tent and car. She said the family had last heard from Mr Doherty at just after 7pm on Aug 6 via WhatsApp.
Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off in the Pyrenees on Saturday Aug 3.
“He was sending us a few pictures of the scenery and then on Tuesday afternoon sent us one of clouds coming over the top of a mountain. He said ‘bugger’,” she said.
“We told him to be careful and urged him to come down. The last time we heard from him was Tuesday. He told us he had fallen and couldn’t move. That’s all we’ve had since. The search party has found a tent and his car. We’re obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare.”
His son, whose Facebook name is Ricardo Zamora, described his father as “a 67-year-old Englishman with curly grey hair and glasses”.
“He fell yesterday Aug 6 at about 4pm, and after he fell he sent me an alert message. His name is Tom/Justin Doherty. His car was found at Col d’Escots this morning. Please contact me if you have seen him or have any information.”
A search is under way involving dogs and helicopters.
Mr Doherty’s wife and one of his four daughters have been at his last known location since Wednesday morning.
Mr Doherty’s son told the Telegraph that the search was continuing but declined to comment further.
Speaking to France 3 Occitanie, the local television news channel, wife Anne Lyons said: “We received photos and messages every day. And then on Tuesday, while we were in England, everyone received messages, ‘help, I can’t move. I can’t move’. And then nothing.”
“Since then, we’ve had no contact with him. He doesn’t receive any messages. He doesn’t reply. So we sounded the alarm from England. Since Wednesday, searches have been carried out in the mountains with dogs and helicopters, but the fog has come in, which has made the operation difficult.”
“We know he’s camping somewhere in the area, but not exactly where. During the day, someone saw him near the car park at the Etang d’Aubé, near the Cirque de Gérarc. He was tired, but wanted to keep going. Later, he was probably injured in an accident.”
“We’re very worried but we haven’t given up hope. That’s why we’re appealing for witnesses.”
Clare Carlile, a friend of one of Mr Doherty’s daughters, posted a missing person’s appeal on the climbing and mountaineering website UKClimbing on Tuesday evening.
She said: “My friend’s dad has gone missing in the French Pyrenees. Does anyone know where this image is from to try and help locate him? He sent a message at 4pm this afternoon saying he had fallen while hiking and could not move. We have not been able to get in contact with him since.
“He is likely to be in/close to Ariège, in the Occitanie region. His last known location was Étang du Comté, where we have located an image from Sunday.
“The image shared is from Saturday – we are trying to work out his direction of travel in case it gives some idea of where he may be now. He sent a message during the day saying he was ‘somewhere near Ax-Les-Thermes’. We are in contact with the British embassy for France, who are alerting the police.”
Since retiring almost a decade ago, Mr Doherty has spent most of his time in France.
According to his family, the retired doctor was a respected consultant of tropical medicine who worked around the world and specialised in malaria.
