British-Irish trekker found dead in northern Pakistan after fall during descent

The body of a British trekker has been found in northern Pakistan, local officials have said.

Alexander Harris, who was originally from Birmingham, went missing on Saturday as he was descending from the summit of Musa Ka Musala, a mountain of just over 4,000m (13,000ft), in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Khalid Iqbal, the area's deputy commissioner, said police and volunteers had been involved in a search for 30-year-old Harris and his body was found on a path in a forest, adding "most probably he slipped and fell".

He had been living in Pakistan's capital Islamabad where he worked for global advisory company Adam Smith International.

Harris, who also had Irish citizenship, had set off on the trek around 05:40 local time on Saturday with a hiking companion. They took some photos at the summit and then began to descend, before becoming separated.

"There was a difference in their speed," Iqbal said. "He [Harris] was moving faster, he got about 1-2km ahead. Then it started raining."

The deputy commissioner estimated that between 250-300 people were involved in the rescue operation including police and volunteers, searching on foot and with drones, although their use was limited by poor visibility.

A keen hiker and trail runner, Harris was a regular participant in long distance races in Pakistan.

Iqbal said the two trekkers had not told the authorities about the trip.

"The hotel had offered him a guide and police security," Iqbal says. "But he said that he knew the area and did not need any help."