Wife and mother of missing hikers ‘heartbroken’ after two bodies found

The wife and mother of two hillwalkers who went missing in the Scottish highlands has said she is “heartbroken” after two bodies were found.

Gemma Parry, whose husband Tom and 12-year-old son Ritchie failed to return home to Alsager, Cheshire, from a walking holiday, said at the family home that she was “doing the best I can”.

The bodies are yet to be formally identified, but the family have been informed.

Speaking at the home in Alsager, Cheshire, Mrs Parry told Mail Online: “I’ve not heard anything more. I’m doing the best I can. I’m heartbroken.”

Mr Parry, 49, and his son had been due to return home on Wednesday after visiting Glen Nevis and Glencoe. Their car was found in the Three Sisters car park, where they had stopped on Tuesday to go hillwalking, and a major search was launched.

Police said two bodies were found during a search in Glencoe on Wednesday evening. They said inquiries were ongoing, but the circumstances did not appear to be suspicious.

Inspector Craig Johnstone, of Police Scotland, said: “Our thoughts are with all those involved. I would like to thank all emergency services and mountain rescue volunteers.”

Richie had recently joined AFC Alsager’s newly formed under-13s football team. St Mary’s Church in Alsager said its prayers were with the family and their friends and neighbours.

In a social media post the church said: “St Mary’s Church will continue to be open, as it is every day, for anyone who wishes to come in and peacefully hold Tom, Richie, and all their family, in their thoughts and prayers.”

Mr Parry is believed to have worked as a market researcher, and had studied at the University of St Andrews in Fife in the 1990s.

The area in which he and his son had been walking in has been hit by thundery downpours this week, with a Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms in place on Monday.