The family of an experienced fell runner and British team member who went missing in the Perthshire hills have been told by police that a body has been found.
An intensive search involving police, mountain rescue teams and a coastguard helicopter had been launched after Chris Smith, 43, a Team GB mountain-running bronze medallist, went missing on Tuesday evening.
Smith was last seen at 3pm on Tuesday after leaving his family’s holiday accommodation at Invervar near Aberfeldy to go running along a mountain route in the Glen Lyon area of Perthshire.
In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, Police Scotland said: “At around 11.50am on Thursday, 29 October, 2020, the body of a man was found near to Meall Garbh in the Glenlyon area.
“Formal identification has yet to take place. However, the family of missing 43-year-old Chris Smith has been informed. Inquiries remain ongoing and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”
Earlier on Thursday, Smith’s family released a fresh statement asking for hill walkers, locals and holidaymakers to look out for him, or alert the police if they believed they had seen him since Tuesday afternoon.
“The search for Chris continues today, and whilst it’s a difficult time for the family, we are trying to stay positive,” they said. “Any information at all at this stage would be hugely appreciated by the family, as we all desperately want to bring Chris home.”
Ruth McKee, a cousin of Smith’s, posted an appeal on Twitter saying: “He’s an experienced fell runner and could have become disorientated and ended up further afield.”
My cousin is missing after going for a run in Glen Lyon is Perthshire yesterday. He's an experienced fell runner and could have become disorientated and ended up further afield. Please share. pic.twitter.com/rEnmUWndSx
— Ruth McKee (@ruthamckee) October 28, 2020
His disappearance triggered an intensive search around the peaks of Meall nan Aighean, Càrn Mairg, Meall Garbh and Carn Gorm, a group of four Munros (hills above 3,000ft) known as the Glen Lyon Horseshoe. Local climbers and walkers volunteered to join in the search.
Smith, originally from Daviot in Aberdeenshire, lives with his wife, Lindsay, and their two young sons in Haywards Heath, Sussex, and runs with Thames Valley Harriers.
His family said he had represented Team GB in mountain-running championships numerous times, helping win a bronze medal in the European championships in Italy in 2016. He finished eighth at the European championships in 2013 and 10th at the world championships in Wales in 2015.