Joshua Parfitt
A BRITISH hiker has been found dead after going missing while walking to the top of a mountain peak near Marbella.
The man, who has not been named, reportedly got into trouble as he ascended to the summit of La Concha, near Marbella.
The search started around 4pm on Saturday after the man sent a WhatsApp message to loved ones back in Britain asking for help.
His family contacted UK police who alerted Spanish police via consular officials in Malaga.
The search, which involved Civil Guard as well as firefighters, had to be suspended late on Saturday night due to a lack of light.
His body was found just after 9am this morning morning after it was spotted by a police helicopter.
La Concha is just under 4,000ft above sea level and has views of the Costa del Sol coastline, the ocean and Gibraltar and Morocco on a clear day.
It is a popular weekend destination for locals, expats and holidaymakers, although summer is not an advisable time to try the hike during the main part of the day because of the high summer temperatures.
It was not immediately clear if he sent the SOS to his family because he got lost or had suffered an accident.
