This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg146qv3gzo
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Body found in search for British hiker Matthew Hall in Italy | Body found in search for British hiker Matthew Hall in Italy |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Matthew Hall was known to be a confident walker with knowledge of rugged terrain | Matthew Hall was known to be a confident walker with knowledge of rugged terrain |
| Rescue teams searching for British man Matthew Hall in the Italian Alps have found a body. | Rescue teams searching for British man Matthew Hall in the Italian Alps have found a body. |
| The discovery was made on Wednesday evening close to the Cross of Daloo, a mountain viewpoint high above the town of Chiavenna, where the 33-year-old had been staying. | The discovery was made on Wednesday evening close to the Cross of Daloo, a mountain viewpoint high above the town of Chiavenna, where the 33-year-old had been staying. |
| Mr Hall, from Hull, went missing on 9 July. Italian police said his family had been informed. | Mr Hall, from Hull, went missing on 9 July. Italian police said his family had been informed. |
| Sam Jackson, who travelled to Italy to join the search, said everyone was in shock at the loss of an "amazing" friend. | Sam Jackson, who travelled to Italy to join the search, said everyone was in shock at the loss of an "amazing" friend. |
| "We all absolutely loved him," he added. "At least we are bringing him home – back to where he should be." | "We all absolutely loved him," he added. "At least we are bringing him home – back to where he should be." |
| A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities." | A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities." |
| Mr Hall sent a photograph of the Cross of Daloo to friends on the day he went missing, leading to a search of trails in the area | Mr Hall sent a photograph of the Cross of Daloo to friends on the day he went missing, leading to a search of trails in the area |
| Mr Hall was staying at the B&B Ploncher hotel when he went missing. | Mr Hall was staying at the B&B Ploncher hotel when he went missing. |
| He was thought to have planned an eight-hour trek, but told a friend in a text message he had taken a wrong turn and was having a rest. | He was thought to have planned an eight-hour trek, but told a friend in a text message he had taken a wrong turn and was having a rest. |
| Lt Gim Toni De Masi said a body was found at 19:00 local time in a crevice in the area from where Mr Hall sent the message. | Lt Gim Toni De Masi said a body was found at 19:00 local time in a crevice in the area from where Mr Hall sent the message. |
| Due to the danger involved in reaching the body, a helicopter was brought in to assist with the recovery. | Due to the danger involved in reaching the body, a helicopter was brought in to assist with the recovery. |
| Mr Hall's mother arrived in Italy on Wednesday. His father is expected to arrive on Friday, the officer added. | Mr Hall's mother arrived in Italy on Wednesday. His father is expected to arrive on Friday, the officer added. |
| Sam Jackson has praised the people of Chiavenna for their help | Sam Jackson has praised the people of Chiavenna for their help |
| More than a dozen of Mr Hall's friends and colleagues travelled to Italy to join the search. | More than a dozen of Mr Hall's friends and colleagues travelled to Italy to join the search. |
| They said three helicopters, multiple mountain rescue teams, police and a specialist drone had been working around the clock to try to find him. | They said three helicopters, multiple mountain rescue teams, police and a specialist drone had been working around the clock to try to find him. |
| Speaking to the BBC in Italy, Mr Jackson said the group had been optimistic that they would find him. | Speaking to the BBC in Italy, Mr Jackson said the group had been optimistic that they would find him. |
| Paying tribute to his friend, he said Mr Hall loved snowboarding, skateboarding and watching his local rugby league side Hull KR. | Paying tribute to his friend, he said Mr Hall loved snowboarding, skateboarding and watching his local rugby league side Hull KR. |
| The Italian police, rescue workers and the community in Chiavenna had given them "amazing" help and support. | The Italian police, rescue workers and the community in Chiavenna had given them "amazing" help and support. |
| "They have found our pal," Mr Jackson added. | "They have found our pal," Mr Jackson added. |
| Friends of Matthew Hall travelled to Italy to help with the search | Friends of Matthew Hall travelled to Italy to help with the search |
| Mr Hall began his solo hiking trip on 5 July and had been due to fly back from Milan to Manchester on 12 July. He was known to be a confident walker with knowledge of mountains and rugged terrain. | Mr Hall began his solo hiking trip on 5 July and had been due to fly back from Milan to Manchester on 12 July. He was known to be a confident walker with knowledge of mountains and rugged terrain. |
| In a statement, Mr Hall's employer, the broadband firm Quickline, said: "We are devastated to learn that our colleague Matt, who was reported missing while on holiday in Italy, has sadly been found dead. | In a statement, Mr Hall's employer, the broadband firm Quickline, said: "We are devastated to learn that our colleague Matt, who was reported missing while on holiday in Italy, has sadly been found dead. |
| "Matt was a much-loved and respected member of the Quickline team and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time." | "Matt was a much-loved and respected member of the Quickline team and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time." |
| 'Love and support' | |
| Analysis by Phillip Norton | |
| Steep trails lead to a huge wooden cross towering over the valley and the town of Chiavenna below. A plaque at the base of the cross marks its height. 1,100m above sea level. | |
| The spectacular vista from this high altitude viewpoint beside the tiny mountain village of Daloo would have been everything Matthew Hall hoped to see on his hiking trip. | |
| We know Matthew reached this point to enjoy the view before he disappeared; he proudly shared a photo he had taken of the cross with friends back home. | |
| Sadly, but almost fortuitously, it was among the holiday snaps he had taken that would ultimately lead search teams to the area where his body was found. | |
| As night began to fall on Wednesday, and town centre restaurants filled with people enjoying the warm evening, the sound of a rescue helicopter grew louder. People here had become used to the noise during the search, but the timing seemed odd as it hovered above. | |
| Police say the helicopter was needed to help recover Matthew's body, discovered in a dangerous crevice, close to the Cross of Daloo. | |
| His friends who flew here to help with the search soon learned the devastating news. They raised a glass, and toasted a life well lived. | |
| That so many of them travelled here to help, taken to heart and looked after by the locals, spoke volumes about their friendship and efforts here, all carried out with such dignity. They are so grateful for the work of rescuers, and the love and support shown by the town of Chiavenna. | |
| It was not the day any of them ever wanted to see. But as their journeys home begin, they take a degree of comfort knowing Matthew will also return to his family, his friends, and the people of Hull who loved him. | |
| Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. | Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. |
| Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices | Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices |