Rescuers find body of missing walker on Howgill Fells

Credit: Credit: Penrith Mountain Rescue Team

The body of a man in his 70's, has been found by rescue teams after going missing while walking on the Howgill Fells.

A major search operation was launched when the man failed to return from a walk on the hills, in the far western reaches of the Yorkshire Dales national park.

Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team were called out on Wednesday evening after the walker was reported overdue.

Both Kendal and Penrith Mountain Rescue Teams took over the search in the morning. The missing man's body was found in a gill by one of the search dog handlers and recovered by all three teams along with a Maritime and Coastguard agency helicopter from Prestwick.

A Kirkby Stephen MRT spokesperson said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the man’s family, loved ones and friends.

“Our thanks go to Kendal and Penrith Mountain Rescue Teams, the LDMRSDA, HM Coastguard, with crews from both Humberside and Prestwick involved in the search and recovery, and RAF mountain rescue who were in the process of deploying when the discovery was made.”