Australian hiker Jordan Yap has been found dead after going missing during a solo trek in Peru’s remote Huayhuash mountain range.
The 30-year-old Melbourne man had been due to spend 10 days walking the Cordillera Huayhuash circuit, a challenging high-altitude route through the Andes. He last contacted friends and family on September 14.
Concern grew after Mr Yap failed to collect his belongings from a hostel and missed a flight from Lima to Cusco the following day. His family and friends subsequently hired a private mountain rescue team to assist with the search.
His loved ones announced the discovery in a statement, saying: “With a heavy heart we are so sorry to tell you Jordan has been found, and he did not survive.”
They added: “We want to thank everyone who has helped; friends and family, the contributors, the search teams, the police, the many groups we engaged with who gave their time and effort, everyone who helped to share on social media. We are appreciative of all of you.”
Local authorities notified the family that Mr Yap’s body had been found in the Mitucocha Lagoon area. The high-altitude lake is in central Peru, about 200km north of Lima.
Those close to Mr Yap had hoped for weeks that he would be found alive. His friend Kevin Nguyen previously said the experienced adventurer might have taken an alternative route.
“I know Jordan likes to orienteer and navigate and he’s quite an adventurer himself, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried an alternative route,” Mr Nguyen said.
Mr Yap had been planning the trek for more than a year and had recently bought a GPS watch with offline maps. Mr Nguyen said he had been “really excited” about the planned hike.
According to his family, Mr Yap had completed hiking trails in Australia, China, Turkey and Jordan. His father, Vinh Dao, described him as an avid outdoor enthusiast who spent many weekends in the snow during winter.
Mr Yap’s family said: “Please remember Jordan as the vibrant man he was, and for the immense joy he brought to so many people’s lives.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said officials were assisting the family. A spokesperson added: “We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.”
