Authorities have called off the search for 31-year-old Portuguese mountain climber João Marinho, who went missing over two weeks ago while exploring Spain’s Picos de Europa mountains.
Portugal’s GNR police issued a statement last night (November 20) explaining that “strong winds and snow” in the Picos were preventing police from Spain and Portugal from carrying on with the search.
“It is with a heavy heart that the GNR officers will return to Portugal tomorrow (November 21),” said the statement, adding that the officers were “filled with hope” that they’d find the climber every day they set out on their search.
A group consisting of 21 Spanish ‘Guardia Civil’ and 10 Portuguese GNR officers as well as four volunteer mountain climbers had been searching for Marinho for days
.
Searches were focusing on the popular “anillo de los refugios” route, which covers part of the mountain range covering Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León.
A map of the route was found on Marinho’s computer inside his parked car outside the hostel where he was staying at in Valdeón, León.
However, a local shepherd admitted that it would be a “miracle” if the amateur climber survived the Picos’ current harsh conditions.
Marinho is believed to have gone missing around November 5.
His last Facebook post dates back to November 4, and includes a stunning photograph of the mountain range with the poignant message: ““Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.”
Meantime, Portugal’s Mountain Climbing Federation is understood to be hoping to send a group of “experienced” climbers to the Picos to continue the search.
As weather forecasts for the next few days are far from ideal, it is not known when they will manage this.
Strong winds and snow force police abandon search for Portuguese climber
