Alexander Harris Pakistan: British trekker's body found
Alexander Harris Pakistan search teams have recovered the body of the missing British trekker after he vanished while descending Musa Ka Musala. Local officials say the 30-year-old, originally from Birmingham and also an Irish citizen, most probably slipped and fell during the descent. Police and volunteers found him on a forest path in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after a major mountain search.
Key Takeaways
- Alexander Harris, 30, went missing on Saturday descending Musa Ka Musala, a peak of just over 4,000m (13,000ft).
- Deputy commissioner Khalid Iqbal said his body was found on a forest path and he most probably slipped and fell.
- His trail-running club said poor weather and visibility led him onto a wrong trail before a fall into a ravine estimated at 200 feet.
- About 250–300 police and volunteers searched on foot and with drones amid rain, fog and limited visibility.
- Harris lived in Islamabad and worked for Adam Smith International; the UK Foreign Office is supporting his family.
How did Alexander Harris go missing?
Harris set off around 05:40 local time on Saturday with a hiking companion. They took photos at the summit of Musa Ka Musala, then started down and became separated.
“There was a difference in their speed,” Iqbal told the BBC. Harris moved faster and got about 1–2km ahead before rain set in. He was a keen hiker and trail runner who regularly joined long-distance races in Pakistan.
Iqbal said the pair had not told authorities about the trip. A hotel had offered a guide and police security, but Harris said he knew the area and did not need help.
Where was his body found in Pakistan?
Searchers located Harris on a path in a forest in northern Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Iqbal said police and volunteers took part, and drone use was limited by poor visibility.
According to Margalla Trail Runners, adverse weather and severely reduced visibility caused him to stray onto an incorrect trail before falling into a ravine estimated to be 200 feet deep, The Independent reported.
Cases like this often sit alongside other mountain and missing-person reports in our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries coverage.
What have officials and his employer said?
A Foreign Office spokesperson said it was “supporting the family of a British man who has died in Pakistan and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Adam Smith International called Harris a “much loved member” of the team and said it was devastated. The firm said he cared deeply for Pakistan, its people and nature, and learned Urdu while living there. It thanked hundreds of local residents, volunteers, police, rescue teams, the forest department, his trail-running community and the government of Pakistan for searching in heavy rain, fog and steep terrain.
Margalla Trail Runners described him as “a passionate trail runner” and offered condolences to his family and loved ones.