Body of missing British hiker found in Hautes-Alpes

The body of a British man missing in the French Alps for 11 months has been found in the Hautes-Alpes department.

Kirk Handley, 60, from Yorkshire, disappeared on September 7, 2024, after setting out on a solo hike and bivouac in the Col and Pic d’Arsine sector, between Villar-d’Arêne and Le Monêtier-les-Bains. He had planned to return by September 10.

The remains were discovered on Sunday morning (August 10) by another hiker, said the Briançon peloton de gendarmerie de haute montagne (PGHM) mountain rescue service.

The isolated area is around 2,500m in altitude and close to the Neige Cordier and Arsine peaks.

Mr Handley was an experienced mountaineer who had previously taken part in climbing trips in the Alps. 

He had been on holiday in the Hautes-Alpes and was staying in Villar-d’Arêne when he set out.

His family in the UK raised the alarm on September 13, 2024, but local gendarmerie were not informed until September 22. 

Searches began the next day, involving ground patrols, aerial support and specialist high-mountain teams.

Officers found his rented vehicle parked in Villar-d’Arêne with a note outlining his planned route and intended return date. 

A bivouac tent and other camping equipment were later located near the mountain peaks, but no further trace of him was found at the time.

Efforts to locate him were hindered by poor weather and the vast, rugged terrain. 

Despite multiple search operations in September and October last year, no new leads emerged over the winter.

The PGHM has not confirmed the cause of death. The body has been recovered and will be examined by forensic services in Gap.

The Col d’Arsine area, on the border of the Ecrins National Park, is a popular hiking and climbing route but includes high-altitude passes that can be dangerous in case of sudden changes in weather, rockfalls and ice.