A SCOTS cyclist who went missing overseas after eating wild mushrooms has been found dead in Italy.
Steven Harper was on a cycling trip from Dundee to India but his family raised the alarm in December after he was not in contact for nearly a month.
It has now emerged he fell from a cliff in Ventimiglia, four miles from the French-Italian border, on November 23.
His family believe he may have become disorientated because of toxins from the mushrooms he had eaten while foraging for food.
His last known message mentioned he was feeling ill after making a meal which included mushrooms and noodles.
Steven’s brother Dale Harper, 40, from Dundee, who had launched an online appeal to find his missing sibling, travelled to Italy earlier this month to identify his body.
In a post on Facebook, he said: “The search ended in heartbreak with the discovery of Steven’s body in Italy.
“He had enough resources to survive but might have made a fatal mistake with the mushrooms.
“His death was attributed to a fall from a cliff, possibly due to disorientation caused by mushroom toxins.
“I was left to grapple with the loss, the responsibility of identifying his body, and the realisation of his final moments in a place he loved.”
Dale said the Italian police report had concluded Steven had died from falling off a cliff on November 23, an hour after his last message.
He was seen falling and nearby workmen rushed to his aid. A helicopter was immediately dispatched but he died as a result of internal bleeding from the fall.
His identity documents had been stolen during a robbery while he was cycling through Barcelona earlier in his trip.
His brother added: “We are still waiting on the toxicology report but from the evidence we have it seems most likely that Steven had felt delirious due to the toxins, lost balance and fell with his belongings.
“I take comfort in knowing he was doing what he wanted to do, wasn’t wanting for anything, was surrounded by people in his last moments in a place he always said he had wanted to die.”
Steven’s mother Angela Bear also paid tribute to him on Facebook.
She said: “My beautiful, adventurous son’s journey in this world has come to an end. Steven was living his absolute best life to the fullest and found joy in every step he took and every life he touched.
“He was loving life and wanted to inspire others to see the world.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man and are in contact with the local authorities.”
