Tragic ending as body found during search for missing Irish hiker

Italian media outlets are reporting that the 39-year-old’s body was found in a remote area.

Emergency services believe the man lost his way after he was reported missing by his brothers whom he is understood to have separated from.

 According to the newspaper L’unione Sarda, emergency services were scouring the coast on a large scale. The search continued without stopping on the third leg of the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara mining trail, between Masua and Cala Domestica.

 A search for an Irish hiker last seen on Friday afternoon in Sardinia has been called off after a body was found.

The trail which is 19.3 kilometers long is classed as hard and challenging and runs along the coastline. Some passages, particularly along the panoramic route after passing the Cantina Belvedere, are exposed to falling debris from above. There are 30 stages in total.

The southern-based Cagliari fire brigade set up an Advanced Command Post with a Ucl (local command unit) vehicle to coordinate the teams, operating on-site with Tas (topography applied to the rescue) specialists, Saf an alpine and fluvial speleology team, Sapr a remotely piloted aircraft systems unit with drones and a dog unit.

In addition to the ground teams, with off-road vehicles, the national Drago 144 helicopter was also deployed. 

On Saturday the helicopter flew over areas surrounding the search area.

The missing man was hiking with his brothers when they split up and all traces of him were lost.

On Saturday evening, the tragic discovery of the man’s body was confirmed. The body was found on the side of the Canale di Sa Rocca Niedda.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.