A source close to the search for missing British hiker Esther Dingley has expressed fears that she may have fallen into a lake or other freezing water in the Pyrenees. The 37-year-old had been planning to camp near one of several high-altitude lakes in the area days before her disappearance.
The source told the Daily Mail that such accidents are common, with victims often drowning or suffering severe injuries. They noted that bodies sometimes disappear in winter due to snow and increased water depth, only to reappear in spring. The possibility of slipping into water is high, and without anyone to rescue or raise the alarm, the consequences can be fatal.
Esther was last seen on November 22 by a Spanish Olympic skier, Marti Vigo del Arco, who said she continued towards the summit after asking for fruit. She sent her partner Dan Colegate a selfie from the summit about an hour later, and has not been heard from since.
Her aunt, Elizabeth Wolsey, has voiced fears of kidnapping, as Spanish police have yet to trace a mystery hiker who gave Esther a lift three days before she vanished. Investigators are exploring non-accident theories, and the manager of a mountain refuge where she stayed described her disappearance as 'very strange'.
The search, involving helicopters, dogs, and elite mountain rescue units, was suspended due to bad weather and freezing temperatures. Sergeant Jorge Lopez Ramos of the Civil Guard admitted the operation may not resume with full intensity until next spring. Esther's family remains distraught, with her aunt saying they feel utterly helpless.
