Missing Brit found dead in Alps after sending tragic final selfie

By Mieka Smiles, News Reporter, Emily Wright, World News Reporter

Matthew has been found dead in Italy (Image: Facebook)

A British hiker who went missing in Italy has been found dead near where he sent his final texts to friends. Matthew Hall, 33, disappeared on July 9 on holiday after sending a message to friends saying he was lost. He sent the message shortly after heading into the mountains.

Search teams spotted his body in a crevice a short distance from where he sent the message and a helicopter was dispatched to recover him due to the dangerous conditions for rescuers. Drones and dogs were also involved in the search before the tragic discovery. Mr Hall, an IT worker from Hull, had been staying at a B&B in Valchiavenna near Sondrio in northern Italy when he was discovered missing by the owner after he failed to check out. Several of his friends and his mother, Sara Foster, then flew out to join the hunt.

Mr Hall, an IT worker from Hull, had been staying at a B&B in Valchiavenna near Sondrio in northern Italy when he was discovered missing. (Image: Getty)

The last text Mr Hall sent was to his friend, Jacob White, at 1:37pm BST on the day he went missing. In the message he told him that he thought he had taken a "wrong turn" on a train and was "having a rest". Mr White said he he sounded "relaxed" in the text and that Mr Hall had asked him about his own holiday in Cornwall.

Mr Hall also shared a picture of a well-known landmark at Alpe Daloo near San Giacomo Filippo with his friends and family, which search teams then used to pinpoint his location.

Lt Gim Toni De Masi, of the local carabinieri police, told MailOnline: "The body of the missing man was found at around 7pm on Wednesday night. He was around 200m below the cross where he had sent a picture, in a crevice in a very dangerous area and a helicopter had to be used to recover him.

"We received a call saying someone had spotted something and a team was sent back up the mountain to have a look and the discovery was made. His mother, who has only just arrived in Italy, has been informed and I understand his father is due to arrive here on Friday.

"It is not the outcome we were hoping for, and we send our condolences to his friends and family.

"His body was taken to a local hospital in Sondrio and the prosecutor has been informed as per procedure but as it looks like an accident. His body will be repatriated shortly."

Mr Hall was described as a "competent walker" and had arrived in Italy on July 8 for a four-day hiking break. After he arrived at his B7B, the hosts noticed he never collected his breakfast but assumed he had left early for a walk. However, when he did not return for checkout on July 11, they raised the alarm.

The next day, the owners entered the room to find all his personal items and documents inside, apart from his backpack. His phone was also switched off. They contacted the police, who launched a manhunt on July 13. The operation involved the Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza and the Alpine Rescue team.