The plight of a retired doctor who disappeared in August while hiking in the Pyrénées has underlined the importance of location-sharing apps.
Tom Doherty had sent his family back in the UK a WhatsApp message saying he had fallen and could not move.
Despite their and the police’s best efforts to find him, the search was called off after a week.
The ARPD, an association that searches for missing people, coordinated a search party with other associations and locals, but no traces have been found.
It is believed his phone ran out of battery and that he was in an area with no telephone signal.
Reduce the risk when hiking
Around 50 people disappear every year while mountain hiking, according to latest estimates by the Système National d'Observation de la Sécurité en Montagne.
In 2023, a further 42 died from non-traumatic injuries (illness, hypothermia, heart attack, etc.) and 43 died from traumatic injuries.
In total, 4,336 interventions were made by rescuers in the mountains, with around half a result of injuries from falling or slipping.
There are some simple steps and precautions that could save your life by helping rescuers locate your position.
First, always let someone know where you are planning to be. This can significantly reduce the area that search parties must cover if something does happen.
Carrying a whistle can also help, especially if you have fallen somewhere that is not easily visible or accessible.
Tracking system
In France and Europe, a tracking system called AML is automatically in place. If you call the emergency services, a text is automatically sent using either your GPS or your connection to telecommunication towers to pinpoint your location – 85% of the time it is accurate up to 50 metres. However, it is currently only compatible with Android phones.
Another option is the What 3 Words apps. This allocates three unique words to every three square metres of Earth to identify locations easily.
It does not require a phone signal or GPS connection to work once you have downloaded the app, although you will need a phone signal or satellite phone to communicate your location to someone else.
Make sure, too, that you have your phone’s location services turned on, namely either ‘Find my device’ for Android phones or ‘Find my’ for Apple phones.
This will continuously share your location (or latest known location if you run out of battery or lose signal).
For this to work, it is important that someone else is able to access your account, so consider sharing your password with a loved one.
In Mr Doherty’s case, his family were unable to access his account.
Starlink and satellite phones
Other more costly options include Elon Musk’s Starlink Mini, which recently launched in France and allows internet access from almost anywhere, or tracking devices.
Satellite phones are another option. They connect to satellites orbiting Earth rather than telecommunication towers, which may not always have reliable coverage. This means that unless there is something directly in the way, such as being underground, you should be able to make a call from anywhere in the world.
A Personal Locator Beacon can also send a one-way distress signal, allowing you to be found in case of an emergency. Or consider carrying a flare.
Always make sure you have the right equipment, check the weather forecast and have enough water and food. It is safer to hike with someone else.
