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Family searching for hiker missing in the Pyrenees

Family handout Three men on a boat with a turquoise sea in the backgroundFamily handout
Tom Doherty (centre) was walking in the French Pyrenees when he fell on Tuesday, his family believes

The family of a retired doctor are searching for him after he fell while hiking in the Pyrenees mountains.

Tom Doherty, 67, from St Albans in Hertfordshire, was travelling and camping solo in southern France.

Mr Doherty's family received a WhatsApp message from him at 19:07 BST on Tuesday asking for help and saying he had fallen.

His car was found near the Col d'Escots hiking trail in the Ariege region near Cirque de Gerac.

family handout French blue search car in fog with two officers and sniffer dogfamily handout
Search teams using sniffer dogs have been looking for Mr Doherty but have been hampered by fog

It is not known at this stage how seriously Mr Doherty was injured.

Members of his family have flown out to join the search and rescue efforts.

His niece, Kat Waterhouse, told the BBC the WhatsApp message called for "help", saying "I can’t move".

She said French search teams had been out on foot and in helicopters, but had been hampered by descending fog.

"They broke into his car and sniffer dogs sniffed his jacket, but didn't find anything yet."

Supplied Anne and Tom DohertySupplied
Tom, pictured with his wife Anne, has spent most of his time in France since retiring almost a decade ago

She said that conditions on the mountains were harsh.

"It's warm and sunny in the day but really chilly by night. There was a storm last night and another one due later."

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, travelled to the Pyrenees on Saturday.

His daughter Rachel, who is joining the search party, said: "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'.

"We told him to be careful and urged him to come down. We haven’t heard from him since Tuesday."

Family handout Pyrenees mountains and cloudsFamily handout
This was one of the latest photos Tom Doherty sent to his family of his hike through the Pyrenees

Ms Doherty said: "The search party have found a tent and his car. We're obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare."

According to his family, the retired doctor was a respected consultant of tropical medicine who worked around the world and specialised in malaria.

He has spent most of his time in France since retiring almost a decade ago.

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