Devastating news

[Fenman]

Dan posted this on their Facebook page a few hours ago.


"I just wanted to write a short thank you for all of the support and messages that have arrived in the past few days. I've been told that the story has received a lot of attention in the media though I've not had chance to look myself.
I want to write a more complete update soon, but as of now there is still no sign of Esther anywhere in the area she was intending to explore, despite extensive searching from both sides of the border.
I'm going to do some more walking myself now before the sun goes down. Will try and write a more complete update later."

Their FB page is simply: Esther and Dan.

 

[StephandJohn]

Awful to contemplate. It would be bad enough in your own country where you, hopefully, would have family and friends to help.

 

[Fenman]

Dan has posted again on FB. It is turning into a strange situation. It's a bit long but I have copied it below for those who don't do FB.

"It's very difficult to say this, but another day has ended with no trace at all of Esther. I did have a big long update in mind addressing various things, but the key point I think is this:
For several days now there has been talk that perhaps Esther might not be up there and that this was the reason they couldn't find her. Because the weather window is closing fast, with snow tonight and more expected, the search and rescue teams obviously had to prioritise the search on the ground. They've gone over and over and over the trails in the area. They've used helicopters, dogs, a drone and lots of people. I'm very grateful for the effort they've put in on both sides of the border and for the way both teams have kept me honestly informed of their progress and expectations. I have great respect for the work they've done having walked many of the trails myself as well.
However, with no result day after day, taking into account Esther's high level of experience, the nature of the terrain, the good weather she would have had, the fact she had a clearly defined route for Sunday evening and Monday, and various other factors, both search coordinators have essentially told me that although they can never be 100% sure, the prevailing opinion in the search teams is that she isn't there. That if she had fallen from one of the paths, they really would have expected to find her given the intensity, the closeness of the search and the fact most of the trails are really quite straightforward across open ground.
As things stand tonight, Esther is now listed as a national missing persons case in Spain and the case has been passed to a specialised judicial unit in France. This means they will be looking at other options beyond a mountain accident.
While this is a terrifying development in many ways, I'm trying to focus on the fact that it leaves the door open that Esther might still come home. She was so utterly happy and joyful when we last spoke, I'd do anything to see her face and hold her right now."

 

[Armytwowheels]

I can feel his heart break from here.

 

[nicholsong]

I have just been reading through the last 24 hours of posts.

One thing that strikes me is that despite some newspaper reports about a 'car' or 'vehicle' having been found there was no mention of such in Dan's post.

I am putting that together the comment he made about the coordinators' opinion that she is not on the mountains and his comment that the investigation in France will be looking at other possibilities.

If her vehicle has not been found and Dan knows that, the 'missing person' scenario must be up there in his mind. It certainly is starting to be in my mind. My OH said yesterday, before Dan's posts, 'She has run away'. If she has it may not be deliberate and could be some mental change.

If the vehicle has not actually been found has the number been circulated in the media? I am sure the police have done it amongst their forces. Any tracker fitted?

I hope this post does not sound too forensic. That is just one way I am thinking, but I also can sympathise greatly with what Dan feeling, whatever has happened.

Geoff

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[billym]

Dan was on BBC Breakfast about 8.45 am.
He said much the same as his Facebook post but included a rather sadly telling Freudian slip.
I guess one can watch it on i player

 

[kevenh]

Dan was on BBC Breakfast about 8.45 am.
He said much the same as his Facebook post but included a rather sadly telling Freudian slip.
I guess one can watch it on i player

How easy is it to get to Dan via "one can watch it on i player"? Looks like unrelated telly: -

edit: context

 

[MitchandJenny]

I think that many of us have been thinking / hoping, that she has, for whatever reason,
finished her trek and left the mountain...
I feel that above all else, dogs WOULD have detected SOMETHING, even just traces of her passing. Helicopters searches by experienced mountain folk would likewise have found SOMETHING. !! A conclusion Dan now also clings to..
I hope we are all soon enlightened as to the whereabouts of “Slug” the van.
I am sure Dan is overloaded with information right now, but if communal hope and good wishes are as helpful as everyone hopes, that it can result in a positive outcome...
Mitch. X

 

[billym]

How easy is it to get to Dan via "one can watch it on i player"? Looks like unrelated telly: -
View attachment 445108

edit: context

You need to find today's BBC Breakfast on i player and watch it from around 8.45 am

It might not be on i player yet but it will be later

 

[Armytwowheels]

I don't think we should be speculating on here about what might of happened. Dan is a member here and it could be very upsetting to read some of the posts, no matter how well intentioned.

Should we not keep our discussions to the known facts only.

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[Wildbill]

Thinking of them i hope it all ends well they will be in my prayers today
bill

 

[Clipgate]

To remain objective will assist all in this potentially tragic time.

 

[movan]

I don't think we should be speculating on here about what might of happened. Dan is a member here and it could be very upsetting to read some of the posts, no matter how well intentioned.

Should we not keep our discussions to the known facts only.

Yes. Sorry. I'm guilty of that. Just desperate for her to be ok.

 

[nicholsong]

I don't think we should be speculating on here about what might of happened. Dan is a member here and it could be very upsetting to read some of the posts, no matter how well intentioned.

Should we not keep our discussions to the known facts only.

Well my post was based mainly on what was quoted as Dan's own post on FB, so none of that would be a surprise to him.

I wish we could get confirmation from him as to whether Esther was travelling in the camper or not and whether the police have found it and where - all seems a bit vague.

We may need to stop posting if the police are opening an investigation, unless they specifically ask for public help, e.g. any communication to members from Esther and Dan.

When I posted earlier(post #65) that if she had gone off because of some mental change I was thinking of circumstances where she had a fall, hit her head and that had caused something like a brain haemorrhage or amnesia skewing her thinking. I once had a bicycle accident after which I was conscious, walking and talking, according to my rescuers, and only remember from when I was in A&E, so lost 3/4 hour of my life of which I never did get back the memory.

Geoff

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

I am hoping that she dropped her phone somewhere and that's why she hasn't been heard from.
Wishing so hard for her to pop up somewhere silly and be ok.
Sending massive hugs to all her loved ones, it's all we can do.

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[Armytwowheels]

I wish we could get confirmation from him as to whether Esther was travelling in the camper or not and whether the police have found it and where - all seems a bit vague

I know she was travelling in the camper as she told me so herself, in an email on 12th Nov. I did state this already, but in fairness to you, it might have been on the other thread that started running about the same time as this one. This set up may have changed between her email and the start of her hike, who knows.

She hiked up the mountain from the Spanish side, which is where the vehicle was found, or thats what one press report stated. One can only assume that by 'vehicle' the press mean motorhome.

I don't think there is anything wrong with us discussing the situation especially as Dan is openly doing so on Facebook. I just don't think we need to put what if and maybe scenarios, on here for all to read.

 

[Mikey RV]

The more it’s out there on the internet the more peaple know about it the better. It just might jog someone’s memory of seeing her somewhere etc.

 

[billym]

BBC One - Breakfast, 02/12/2020

The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team.

www.bbc.co.uk

From about 2hrs 49 mins or 8.49 am.
Don't know if link will work as I think you may have to login to watch it

 

[nicholsong]

BBC One - Breakfast, 02/12/2020

The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team.

www.bbc.co.uk

From about 2hrs 49 mins or 8.49 am.
Don't know if link will work as I think you may have to login to watch it

For those of us in foreign fields that the BBC deem us unfit to watch (despite paying taxes which subsidise the Beeb) could somebody please give a precis.

Geoff

 

[CazPaul]

Just been on Look North news and announced police are looking at other alternatives as to what happened.

Interview shown with Dan who said he is waiting for other police departments to see what information they can come up with so

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[dabhand]

I guess they have done that triangulation thing to try and ascertain where her phone is!!

 

[Fenman]

Dan's FB posting 4 minutes ago:

"I wanted to say thank you once more for all of you leaving kind messages. It means a lot to me and also that so many of you are holding positive thoughts for Esther. I believe it is important.
Now that this is a formal police investigation I've been asked to let any future updates and comments come out via formal channels, which makes complete sense to me.
If anyone has any information they feel may be relevant, please let the appropriate authorities know directly.
Thank you all again for your support."

 

[Armytwowheels]

Thanks for the update.

 

[fullfat]

I hope I'm wrong but don't see this ending how we want it to.

 

[nicholsong]

Dan's FB posting 4 minutes ago:

"I wanted to say thank you once more for all of you leaving kind messages. It means a lot to me and also that so many of you are holding positive thoughts for Esther. I believe it is important.
Now that this is a formal police investigation I've been asked to let any future updates and comments come out via formal channels, which makes complete sense to me.
If anyone has any information they feel may be relevant, please let the appropriate authorities know directly.
Thank you all again for your support."

I anticipated in my post earlier that this is how the channels of communicaion should go now the police are involved.

Geoff

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[billym]

I see that BBC Breakfast have tweeted just one part of their interview with Dan.

 

[billym]

Mystery man who gave hiker lift 3 days before she vanished hunted by cops

A MYSTERY man who gave missing hiker Esther Dingley a lift three days before she vanished in the Pyrenees is being hunted by police. Authorities in both France and Spain are now actively looking at…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[Chris]

This latest development is a bit worrying

 

[StephandJohn]

Doesn't seem like there's any more news.

 

[Armytwowheels]

I guess now it is a police investigation rather than a mountain rescue, they are not going to be releasing information unless it helps their investigations.

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