Urgent search for British doctor, 67, missing two days in the Pyrenees after sending family a photo of incoming clouds captioned: ‘Bugger’

The family of a retired British doctor have issued an urgent appeal for help after he went missing in the French Pyrenees nearly two days ago.

Tom Doherty, 67, from St Albans, was hiking and camping near Col d’Escots when his family lost contact with him on Tuesday.

A desperate search is now underway involving dogs and helicopters, but has been hampered by poor visibility.

Mr Doherty was last in contact with his family at 19.07pm, telling them he had fallen and could not move via WhatsApp.

Daughter Rachel Doherty said he had sent pictures of the local scenery before going missing, with clouds coming over a mountain and the caption ‘bugger’.

They implored him to stay safe and come down, but soon after lost contact. 

‘The last time we heard from him was Tuesday,’ Rachel told PA.

‘He told us he had fallen and couldn’t move. That’s all we’ve had since.

‘The search party have found a tent and his car.

‘We’re obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare.’

Mr Doherty, a grandfather of one who has been described as an avid and experienced walker, set off in the Pyrenees on Saturday.

His wife and one of his four daughters have been at his last known location since Wednesday morning.

Ms Doherty is also now heading to France to join the search party.

The retired doctor was a respected consultant of Tropical medicine who worked around the world and specialised in Malaria, his family said.

Since retiring almost a decade ago, he has spent most of his time in France.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been approached for comment.

Clare Carlile, a family friend, posted on the UKClimbing mountaineering website late Tuesday, asking for help in identifying a spot in the mountains Mr Doherty photographed on Saturday before going missing on Tuesday.

She said he was likely to be in Ariege, in the Occitanie region of France.

‘The image shared is from Saturday – we are trying to work out his direction of travel in case it gives some idea of where he may be now,’ she said.

‘He sent a message during the day saying he was “somewhere near Ax-Les-Thermes”.’

One user suggested it might be a hiking trail called Pic de Serón et Vallé de Turguilla.