United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Body believed to be that of missing British backpacker found in Guatemala
A body has been found in the search for a 23-year-old British woman who disappeared in Guatemala on March 5.
Catherine Shaw, from Witney, was reported missing after she left Hotel Mayachik near Lake Atitlan a week ago.
Guatemalan police said search teams have found a body at San Juan La Laguna. While it has not been identified, Ms Shaw’s family have been told of the find, they said.
Ms Shaw set off travelling last September. She had been with a friend in Guatemala for two weeks, having previously visited Mexico and California.
People searching for Ms Shaw said she left Hotel Mayachik twice; first at 01:37 local time, returned, then left again at 05:23 heading in the direction of Lake Atitlan.
Over the weekend Guatemalan police, local people and Britons in the country searched along the Indian Nose hiking trail. Drones were also used to search the wooded area.
A puppy which Ms Shaw took with her when she left the accommodation was found at the peak of the hiking trail on Friday morning.
In a statement The Lucie Blackman Trust, which has been helping Ms Shaw’s family, said it was ‘saddened to announce that a body has been found in the search for Catherine Shaw’.
It added: "Formal identification has not taken place but the body is believed to be Catherine."
The body was discovered shortly after a jacket believed to be Ms Shaw’s was found nearby.
Related News Stories:
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Tricia Handley-Hughes of Inteletravel announces the location for the TravelQuest 2025 conference
Insights from James Ferrara on Inteletravel’s Growth and Future
Tricia Handley-Hughes on Inteletravel’s Growth and Challenges
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Woman dies after getting ‘entangled’ in baggage carousel
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies