Latest news with #MatthewHall
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Friends of missing Hull hiker Matthew Hall retrace steps in Italy
Friends of a hiker from Hull missing in northern Italy have started to retrace his steps in an effort to find him. Matthew Hall, who was staying at the B&B Ploncher hotel in Chiavenna, Lombardy, has been missing since 9 of his friends, including some who have known him since school and colleagues from East Yorkshire broadband firm Quickline, have flown out to join the said three helicopters, multiple mountain rescue teams, police and a specialist drone have been working around the clock to try and find Mr Hall, 33, who is described as a "very competent" walker. On Wednesday morning, Mr Hall's friend, Benjamin Lee, said the group was planning a trek "to get some visibility of the terrain".Mr Lee said Italian officials had informed them that, in addition to police and their resources, rescue teams totalling about 30 people were out looking for their friend."It's 24 hours, we're getting updates in the middle of the night from the teams," said Mr Blowman, another friend, described Mr Hall as a "very competent" solo hiker, who "knows what he's doing".He added: "We've been having daily briefs with the search and rescue guys and they've been showing us where they've been."They're covering every square metre."Both men said the local community have been "unbelievable". On Monday, Mr Hall's mother, Sara Foster, said: "I'm very wobbly at the moment, obviously, but I'm really trying to stay positive."In a last text sent to friend Jacob White at 13:37 BST on the day he went missing, Mr Hall had told him he thought he had taken "a wrong turn" on a trail and was "having a rest".Mr White said Mr Hall "sounded relaxed" in the text, with the latter asking him about his own holiday in added that his friend "sounded as if any danger he might have seen was over".In a statement, Quickline described Mr Hall, who has worked as an engineer for the company since January 2023, as a "well-liked colleague". It added that it hoping for "a safe and positive outcome".A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man missing in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Italy hiker Matthew Hall was 'relaxed' before going missing
A British hiker "sounded relaxed" prior to going missing in Italy, a friend has Hall, from Hull, was staying at the B&B Ploncher hotel when he disappeared from Chiavenna, Lombardy, on 9 a last text sent to friend Jacob White on the day he went missing, Mr Hall had told him he thought he had taken "a wrong turn" on a trail and was "having a rest".Friends of the 33-year-old, including five of his colleagues from Quickline, a broadband provider in Willerby, East Yorkshire, have flown to Italy to join the search. Mr White said he received a text from Mr Hall at 13:37 BST on 9 said Mr Hall "sounded relaxed" in the text and was asking him about his own holiday in White added that his friend "sounded as if any danger he might have seen was over". Speaking from Italy, Mr Hall's close friend, Ben Lee, said: "We're here on the ground doing everything we can to help find him."We spoke to the B&B owner who was really helpful and helped us narrow down the hiking routes."There are now five main rescue teams and three helicopters searching for Matt."Friends said permission had also been granted for a drone to be used in the Lee added that "everyone is working so hard" and "around the clock" and the "efforts haven't gone unnoticed"."We just want our friend found, we miss him and we aren't giving up."His family are staying strong back home and we're in constant contact." Mr Hall has worked as an engineer for Quickline since January company said he was a "well-liked colleague" and confirmed that five staff members had travelled to Italy to assist in the search.A Quickline spokesperson said: "We remain in close contact with Matt's family and are doing all we can to support them during this incredibly difficult time."Our thoughts are with Matt and his loved ones, and we are all hoping for a safe and positive outcome."A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man missing in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Local Italy
a day ago
- Local Italy
Search underway after British hiker goes missing in Italian Alps
Matthew Hall, from Hull, was reported missing after he failed to check out of his accommodation, the B&B Ploncher hotel in Chiavenna, Lombardy, on Friday. He was due to fly from Milan to Manchester the following day, according to Italian media reports. A keen hiker and mountaineer, Hall was last heard from at around 1.20pm last Wednesday, when he sent a photo to a friend from the mountain village of Daloo, north of Chiavenna. A text message sent shortly after the photo said he was having a rest after taking a wrong turn while scaling down the side of the mountain he was hiking on. Hall was believed to have gone on an eight-hour trek on the day of his disappearance, according to reports. Search and rescue operations began on Saturday, shortly after hotel management informed police authorities that Hall had failed to check out of his room. Alpine Rescue teams were searching the area above the village of Borgonuovo di Piuro on Tuesday, as that was believed to be the starting point of Hall's trek. Several of Hall's friends and colleagues, and his partner, Reece, have arrived in Italy in recent days to join the search, according to British media. One of Hall's close friends, Ben Lee, said he was last spotted by a girl at a local church on the day he went missing. This 'kind of confirmed which route he was going on,' Lee added. Hall's mother, Sara Foster, told the BBC that his son was an avid hiker 'who loves his trails and walking'. "I'm very wobbly at the moment, obviously, but I'm really trying to stay positive," she said. "If you're walking around Chiavenna just keep an eye out. We just want him to come home." Hall was described as being approximately 1.78 metres tall and having brown hair. He was believed to be wearing a beige top and a black backpack on the day of his disappearance. Italian authorities urged anyone who may have seen Hall or has relevant information to contact the search and rescue team at +39 331 361 9285. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they were supporting Hall's family and were 'in contact with the local authorities'.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Missing Brit Matthew Hall disappeared near 'treacherous gullies and ravines'
Matthew Hall, 33, has not been seen since leaving his accommodation in Chiavenna in the Alps to go for a hike and police are concerned about the area where he vanished Missing Matthew Hall disappeared near treacherous gullies and ravines in the Alps, police believe. The 33-year-old Brit has not been seen since July 9, when he set off from his hotel in Chiavenna, Italy, to go for a hike. He was supposed to fly home on Saturday but is yet to make contact with his family, leaving loved ones at home living what they describe as a "nightmare". Attempts to get in touch with him have so far proved unsuccessful. The alarm was raised by hotel's owners after he did not collect his breakfast for several days, with them initially believing he was likely leaving for early morning hikes. But when Matthew, from Hull, Yorkshire, failed to show up for check-out, the owners discovered his belongings were untouched, and his backpack was not in his room. Now, police have revealed some more details about his last-known movements. One of the 20 rescuers, who are combing the area, assisted by a helicopter, told The Times that they are "concerned because there are plenty of dangerous gullies and ravines in that area." His mother, Sara Foster, said her concerns started when her son failed to board his planned flight to Manchester on Saturday afternoon. A police started started hours later. 'It was typical for Matthew to not have been in touch to avoid paying for data but now I was worrying, although not panicking," she said. But she has been anxiously waiting at home for updates from the Italian authorities - says she has been 'blown sideways' by the support she has received from Matthew's friends and the wider public. She is also grateful to a group of his pals have flown over to join the search teams, who have spent time analysing the last photo he sent to try and pin down its exact location Matthew's employers, Quickline Communcations in Hull, are also sending six staff members out to join the efforts. His mother, who works for elderly care firm Home Instead, said: 'I feel like I'm living someone else's nightmare but I've just been blown sideways by all of his friends. I didn't know them all but I do now. "The way that they have just leapt into action has been unbelievable, it really has. I obviously realise that he's very loved. I got a message from the search team this morning – there are apparently five teams who are out looking for him. Matthew sent a photo of the cross at Alpe Daloo, near San Giacomo Filippo, to friends on the day he went missing, his mum said. His close friend Ben Lee has travelled with a group of friends to Chiavenna. He said his missing pal was last spotted by a girl at a local church on the day he vanished. "It kind of confirmed which route he was going on before there was a sighting of him later on in the day, at a certain point on the trail," he said. "We've got mountain rescue out at the minute. There's four teams, three helicopters and they're going to carry on searching."
Sky News
a day ago
- Sky News
British hiker missing for a week in Italian Alps
A British tourist has been missing for a week after going for a hike in the Italian Alps. Matthew Hall, 33, from Hull, has not been seen since Tuesday 8 July, after he set out on a solo walk from an Airbnb in the town of Chiavenna, just north of Lake Como, in Lombardy, northern Italy. A missing person appeal circulated by his friends and family on social media says he last contacted a friend at 1.20pm the day he went missing, sending a photo of himself on the walk. "He has not contacted family or friends since then," the appeal says, adding he was meant to be flying back to England on Saturday. "A missing person report has been filed with both Italian and UK authorities," it says. Another appeal shared by Italian media says Mr Hall is believed to have taken a wrong turn on his walk at around 1pm. It said he may have been intending to walk towards Savogno or Dasile, starting from Borgonuovo, or towards Pianazzola, Daloo or Lagunch, starting from Chiavenna. Mr Hall's mother Sara Foster told Hull Live that he is an experienced hiker. "He's fit, he's resourceful, so that's what's keeping me positive," she told the local news outlet. "He's well travelled, and a solo traveller. He's a walker and has all the gear. We just need to find him and bring him home to safety." She said several of his friends and colleagues from work had flown out to join the search party. Mr Hall is described as being approximately 1.78m tall with brown hair and blue eyes, and is believed to have been wearing a beige T-shirt and black backpack when he was last seen. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Sky News: "We are supporting the family of a British man missing in Italy and are in contact with the local authorities."
