Elderly tourist lost in mountains

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7228889.stm

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A Scottish tourist has been reported missing in South Africa's highest mountain range.

Michael Hetherington, 73, was last seen on 2 February looking for directions to Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mr Hetherington from Lossiemouth checked into the Didima Camp near Cathedral Peak on the previous afternoon.

His car was found in the car park of the Cathedral Peak Hotel.

A group of hikers said they later came across an elderly man, believed to be Mr Hetherington, who was asking for directions to the peak.

A search team was called when it became apparent that Mr Hetherington had not returned to Didima Camp.

Air search

Inspector Jack Haskins from the local police search and rescue unit said two dogs were deployed to help in the search and a third dog would be brought in to assist.

The police air wing was deployed on an aerial search of the area while a 12-man mountain rescue team was searching on foot.

Rescue organiser Andy Wood said of Cathedral Peak, which is about is two-and-a-half hours from Durban: "It's very steep. It's not for the faint-hearted. It's more like a scramble than a walk."