A French citizen who had disappeared up on the Sierra Nevada three days ago, reappeared yesterday, turning up at the Alpujarreño village of Bayacas.

The 63-year-old man had lost contact with his family with whom he had set out for the Mulhacén on Sunday. However, he lost his bearings and couldn’t find the group again.

So, he decided to descend along barrancos, which was a long and winding route. During those three days he ate membrillos (quinces) and slept one night in a cow enclosure and another in a shepherd’s shelter.

The odyssey drained him physically and psychologically, so as soon as he staggered into Bayacas, he was sent to the nearest medical centre for a check-up but not before informing a French resident in this village that he was the person that they were looking for.

And they were certainly all out looking for him because as soon as the Guardia Civil were informed that the man was missing, they set up a search operation, including a team from the Mountain Rescue Group, (Grupo Especial de Rescate e Intervención en Montaña). They also used a tracker dog.

They quite literally searched ‘high and low’ for him, even employing a drone.

(News: Bayacas, Orgiva, Alpujarra, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: Missing Man, French, Guardia Civil, Excursionist, Lost, Mulhacen, Wild Fruit, Shepherds Shelter