Missing
Several rescue teams, including helicopters and dog search teams, have been searching the mountains above the Chillar river and into areas of Granada
30.07.12 - 17:21 -
Wendy Simm and her daughter wait for news. E.C.
Gordon Simm, 63, an experienced climber, told his wife on Saturday 21st July that he was going to walk to the Cortijo del Imán in the mountains of Nerja. He had arranged to hire a mountain bike to cycle part of the way and then proceed on foot in an attempt to reach La Cadena. Mr Simm and his wife have visited Nerja on holiday every year for the past seven years. He is a semi-retired engineer and a keen landscape and wildlife photographer and won the 'Photographer of the Year' award last year.
His wife, Wendy Simm, explained that he was familiar with the routes and tracks up the mountain, especially as he had attempted to reach La Cadena on two previous occasions. He was expecting to be away Saturday night and return home on Sunday and had therefore gone prepared with a GPS, mobile phone, food and a small bottle of water which he planned to refill from the river on his way.
Sunday evening came and he still had not arrived back at the hotel so his wife told staff what had happened and went to report his disappearance to the Guardia Civil.
Expert search teams
At the time of going to press, aerial and search teams including the ERIEM, the Álora-based mountain rescue unit, had been combing the entire area above the Río Chillar and had extended their search into areas of the Granada province. The canine rescue team, which is part of the fire service, joined in the search on Thursday with Kira, a Spanish water dog and Mara, a Belgian Shepherd, both specially trained to find people. In the early hours of Saturday morning, the fire service began a nighttime search of the Chillar river and the surrounding area with the use of thermal cameras.
There had been no sign of Mr Simm or the mountain bike which he planned to hide in the undergrowth and collect on his return.
The Simms' daughter, Deborah McCloud, flew out to join her mother as soon as she heard her father was missing. Now they just have to sit and wait and hope that one of the rescue teams will find Gordon and bring him back safe and well.
