The body of a British hiker who went missing in the Swiss Alps three months ago has been found, his family has confirmed.

Aidan Roche, 29, was last heard from on June 22 while he was on a solo adventure in the Grindelwald area of Switzerland.

Aidan, who grew up in Longlands, Middlesbrough, was due to return to the UK just two days later.

Swiss police and mountain rescue teams stopped searching for Aidan after they said they had ‘exhausted every option’ but failed to find any new evidence.

His ‘extremely worried’ family and friends launched a GoFundMe campaign in the hope that funds would generate new leads to track him down, with more than £30,000 raised.

But in an update on Sunday, Aidan’s older brother, Connor, confirmed his body was found by police close to the trail he was walking.

He thanked everyone who had donated to the fundraising campaign, saying the support showed ‘just how loved Aidan was’.

Connor previously described his younger sibling as a ‘character’ and someone who could ‘talk to absolutely everyone and make friends with anyone’.

In a Facebook post, he said: ‘We received the news last week that the police in Switzerland had found Aidan near the trail he was walking.

‘The news has hit us all hard, even with this outcome on our minds over the last few months.’

Connor thanked everyone for the ‘outpouring of support’ during the ‘uncertainty and anguish’ while they awaited news about Aidan.

‘For all the messages of support, the sharing of Aidan’s pictures and posters online, and the donations to aid in finding him, you have our deepest gratitude,’ he added.

‘All of this helped to bring him home to us. Thank you so much.’

People posted tributes to Aidan on Facebook, with one person saying: ‘I’m so very sorry for your loss.

‘My heartfelt condolences to all of Aidan’s family and friends, at this most heart-breaking of times.”

Another added: ‘Sending love and deepest sympathy to you and all your family.’

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