British doctor's worrying text to family WhatsApp group before he disappeared

A retired British doctor sent a worrying text to the family WhatsApp group before he went missing in the French Pyrenees earlier this week.

Tom Doherty, 67, from St Albans, was hiking and camping nearby Col d’Escots before he lost contact with the family on Tuesday (6 August).

Rachel Doherty, his daughter, said the last they heard from him was at 7.07pm on WhatsApp.

His family who have called him an 'avid and experienced walker' said he set off in the Pyrenees on Saturday (3 August).

Retired British doctor Tom Doherty, 67, with his wife Anne. (Family Handout/PA)

Ms Doherty told PA News Agency: “He was sending us a few pictures of the scenery and then on Tuesday afternoon sent us one of clouds coming over the top of a mountain. He said ‘bugger’.

“We told him to be careful and urged him to come down.

“The last time we heard from him was Tuesday. He told us he had fallen and couldn’t move. That’s all we’ve had since.

“The search party have found his car.

“We’re obviously very worried and extremely concerned for his welfare.”

Taking to the WhatsApp family group on Tuesday, the dad-of-four shared a worrying message that read: "Help. I've fallen and cannot [m]ove."

The father-of-four wrote a worrying message in the family group chat. (Family Handout/PA)

The family said that since retiring almost a decade ago, Doherty has spent most of his time in France.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man missing in France and are in touch with the local authorities.”

Clare Carlile, a friend of one of Doherty’s daughters, shared a missing person's appeal on UKClimbing on the evening he was last heard from.

She wrote: "My friend's dad has gone missing in the French Pyrenees.

"Does anyone know where this image is from to try and help locate him?

"He sent a message at 4:00pm this afternoon saying he had fallen while hiking and could not move.

A search is underway involving dogs and helicopters. (Family Handout/PA)

"We have not been able to get in contact with him since.

"He is likely to be in/close to Ariege, in the Occitanie region.

"His last known location was Étang du Comte, where we have located an image from Sunday.

"The image shared is from Saturday - we are trying to work out his direction of travel in case it gives some idea of where he may be now.

"He sent a message during the day saying he was 'somewhere near Ax-Les-Thermes'.

"We are in contact with the British Embassy for France, who are alerting the police."

A search for Doherty, involving dogs and helicopters, is currently is underway.