'NOT THE NEWS WE WANTED'

British tourist Geoffrey Smith found dead in Italy after going missing for 10 days

Police believe Smith fell and injured himself and was unable to call for help due to poor phone reception

A British tourist missing for ten days has been found dead in Italy.

Geoffrey Smith, 57, disappeared after telling friends he was staying with he was going for a walk.

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Geoffrey Smith had been missing for 10 days after telling friends he was going for a walk in Italy but his body has now been found

But when he failed to return the alarm was raised and fire fighters, mountain rescue teams and volunteers combed thick woodlands at Uzzano near Montecatini for him.

Geoffrey, from Keighley, west Yorkshire, was found by the owners of a remote house after they turned up to carry out maintenance work yesterday morning.

His niece Jennie Trowbridge posted on Facebook: "Uncle Geoff's body has been found in the hills of Pescia by the firefighters this morning.

Search parties combed dense woodlands near Montecatini in the hope of finding himCredit: Alamy
His body was eventually found when the owners of a remote property arrived to conduct repairsCredit: Alamy

"It's not the news we wanted, but at least now the waiting is over :(

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"Just wanted to say a massive thankyou to *everybody* who has shared the post, suggested websites, spread the word and kept us updated with links and news reports.

"The kindness of friends and strangers alike has been absolutely overwhelming. Thank you."

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A police spokesman in Pescia said: "The body is in a state of decomposition and has been identified from the clothing by the person he was staying with.

"It was found in a densely wooded area that is difficult to access and will probably have to be recovered by helicopter.

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"At the moment we are working on the theory that he fell and injured himself and was unable to raise the alarm as the area has poor mobile reception.
"The next of kin have been informed and are on their way from Britain."

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