The family of a missing hillwalker was told searchers had found a body just after they issued an impassioned plea for help in finding him.
Edward Davies had not been seen since he headed for Glencoe over a week ago.
During a press conference yesterday, his brother John and sister Mary told how the 39-year-old had discussed the possibility of getting into trouble and needing to be rescued before setting off.
The ecologist had not been seen or made contact with his family or friends since he left a note in a hire car saying he planned to go up Sgùrr na h-Ulaidh on Sunday May 8 and to return the same day.
The alarm was raised by Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) deputy leader Brian Bathurst when he found the note on Wednesday of last week.
But Mr Davies’ brother John said his parents started to become concerned earlier in the week.
Speaking before the grim discovery, he said: “He was often hillwalking in areas without phone reception so not hearing from Ed for a couple of days wouldn’t cause the family concern.
“However, our parents were concerned at the start of the week when they attempted to call to chat to Ed and they had no reply from him, which was unusual as we’re a close family.”
Searches began on the afternoon on Wednesday May 11 and a major search operation was launched the following day and continued for the following week.
This involved members of Glencoe, Oban, Lochaber and RAF MRTs, SARDA dogs, police officers and a Coastguard search and rescue helicopter.
Mr Davies’s family and friends have also been out looking for him.
They they were still hopeful that he would be found alive when they held a press conference at Fort William police station yesterday morning.
Ms Davies stressed that the family was very grateful to Glencoe MRT, the police and everyone involved in the search for their efforts.
Mr Davies, originally from Farnborough in Hampshire, had been working in Cumbria prior to his visit to Lochaber.
Police confirmed that the body of a man was found in the Glencoe area yesterday afternoon.
A police spokeswoman said: “Formal identification will now take place.
“The family of Edward Davies, who was reported missing in the area, have been informed.”