Body found in hunt for missing hiker, 74, who was last seen at a campsite on the Isle of Skye

A body has been found in the search for a 74-year-old hiker who was last seen at a campsite on the Isle of Skye.

A massive search for Francis Johnson was launched and conducted by nearly 30 members of mountain rescue teams on Skye on Saturday, resulting in a body being found nearly 1500 ft up on the south bank of Sgurr nan Gobhar, in the Cuillin Hills.  

It took just one hour for the body to be found, but another four for it to be stretchered off the hill. 

Francis was last seen on September 6 when he travelled to the Isle of Skye from his home in Dorset. 

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: ‘The body of a man has been found on the Cuillin range in the Isle of Skye during searches for a missing person.

‘He is yet to be formally identified but the family of Francis Johnson, 74, who had been reported missing in the area, have been informed.’

Neil Urquhart, team leader of Skye Mountain Rescue Team (MRT), praised an eagle-eyed member of his team.

Francis Johnson (pictured) has been missing since early September, and was last seen at a campsite on the Isle of Skye

The body was found on the south bank of Sgurr nan Gobhar, in the Cuillin Hills (Stock)

‘She was looking through binoculars and saw something that did not appear natural. It was only by using a large drone from Cairngorm MRT, and getting right by the remains could you tell it was a body,’ he said.

‘If our team member had not seen it would have been so easy to miss. She id incredibly well. We would also like to thank all the other teams who came to help. It also follows Friday’s search.’

Mr Johnson was an experienced walker and camper.

He left his home in Dorset on September 4, and travelled to the West coast of Scotland, booking into various campsites.

His camping equipment and car are still at the site, after he was last spotted in Glenbrittle. 

Saturday’s search involved Skye, Kintail and Cairngorm mountain rescue teams, Search & Rescue Dog Association and a coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Stornoway, which was diverted to airlift a woman hillwalker to hospital after getting injured in Wester Ross.

She was with a walking group in the Torridon area, and was airlifted by a coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Stornoway to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Her condition is unknown.

Meanwhile, ten members of Glencoe MRT resumed their search for Charles Kelly, 56, but admitted that they were still unable to find him.

Hopes of finding Mr Kelly alive have now disappeared after a major search last weekend by more than 50 rescue team members, search dogs and a coastguard rescue helicopter also drew a blank.

Searchers admit they are ‘baffled’ by Mr Kelly’s disappearance.

His rucksack was found on September 9, but the water bottles were empty.

Mr Kelly left his home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, to go hillwalking and contacted his family around 8pm the next day.

Last week, Glencoe MRT said they were scaling down the search for Mr. Kelly, after spending 10 days looking for him.