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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Bethany Dawson

British campervan traveller missing in the Pyrenees

Photograph: Esther Dingley

A woman who has been traveling through Europe in a campervan for six years has gone missing after a solo trek in the Pyrenees. 

Esther Dingley, 37, from Durham, last communicated with her partner Dan Colegate - with whom she has been travelling - via Whatsapp on 22 November, when she summited Pic de Sauvegarde on the France Spain border. She has not been heard from since. 

The Peloton de Gendarmerie , French rescue authorities, have confirmed they are actively looking for the British woman, who was supposed to return from her hike on 25 November. 

On a Facebook page dedicated to documenting the couple’s adventures, Mr Colegate shared a statement confirming that Ms Dingley was missing, and that he is travelling to  Pic de Sauvegarde to search for his partner. 

He stated that “search and rescue teams have so far found no trace of her" as temperatures at the peak reach lows of -9C. 

Mr Colegate confirmed that Ms Dingley has completed solo trips before, and that they often lead to her being out of contact for a short period, but that this behaviour is not usual.

The pair started this journey in 2014, which they explain was motivated by a health scare  to leave their jobs and start touring Europe by foot, bike & motorhome. Three years into their trip, they adopted a stray dog who turned out to be pregnant. They now live through their adventures with five dogs.  

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