Family of British mountaineer, 60, raise alarm after he went missing two weeks ago

The family of a British mountaineer have issued a desperate plea after he went missing over two weeks ago in the French Alps.

Kirk Handley’s family reported him missing on September 13 when he failed to return from his bid to scale the 11,000ft glacier summit of the Pic du Glacier d’Arsine.

The 60-year-old from Yorkshire has not been heard from since September 7.

However, it is not known why the search for Handley was only launched now after his family sounded the alarm nearly two weeks ago.

French authorities were called when locals in the town of Villar-d’Arene noticed that his rental car had not been moved from its parking spot since the beginning of the month.

Handley had left a note in the vehicle warning of his planned absence from September 7 to September 10.

He had also outlined his hiking route to the Pic du Glacier d’Arsine.

According to the high mountain gendarmerie platoon (PGHM) of Briancon, his last known location to investigators is Villar-d’Arène, from where he departed on foot towards the Col d’Arsine.

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A bivouac site (a temporary shelter or camp for sleeping outside) was discovered at the Pic d’Arsine and near the Pic de Neige Cordier. It was believed to have belonged to Handley.

Authorities said on Tuesday that emergency services have not yet been able to locate Handley.

French police launched an appeal for witnesses this week, sharing a picture of Handley, who the force referred to as a “mountain dweller.”

A PGHM lieutenant told local media the search is due to resume this week, this time aided by a helicopter after it was unable to launch due to bad weather conditions on Tuesday.

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