An Australian man, 30‑year‑old Jordan Yap, was found dead weeks after he vanished while trekking alone in Peru’s Andes, friends and family confirmed. Yap’s body was discovered in the remote Huayhuash mountain range, about 400 km northeast of Lima.
Yap had been preparing for a 120‑km, 10‑day hike through the high‑altitude Cordillera Huayhuash. He last contacted relatives on 14 September, the day he was expected to begin the trek. The route, which normally takes about ten days, was anticipated to be completed in that timeframe.
His disappearance prompted a search involving local rescue teams, police and volunteers who helped circulate appeals on social media. The effort was coordinated with the Krusty hostel in Huaraz, where Yap had failed to check in, and with the flight he had missed from Lima to Cusco.
In a statement posted on Saturday, Yap’s friends and family said, “With a heavy heart, we are sorry to tell you Jordan has been found, and he did not survive.” They added, “Please remember Jordan as the vibrant man he was, and for the immense joy he brought to so many people’s lives.” They thanked the search teams, police and anyone who shared the appeal. Yap’s father, Vinh Dao, noted that Yap was an experienced trekker but that Peru was his first solo expedition. A satellite beacon he had carried was lost in the days before the trek, heightening concerns about his safety.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was assisting Yap’s family and offered condolences. Earlier, the family had raised $90,500 through an online appeal to fund the private search operation, pledging that unused funds would be returned.
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