Body of missing British tourist Harry Greaves found two weeks after he set off on solo hike in Peru

The 28-year-old was last seen setting out for a walk alone two days before his 29th birthday

Harry Greaves was missing for two weeks before his body was found in a 40 metre crevice in the Andes Mountains (PA)

A British hiker who had been missing for two weeks in Peru has been found dead, his family has announced.

Harry Greaves’s body was found by search teams in a 40 metre crevice in the Andes Mountains on Tuesday.

“Our dearest Harry has been found,” his family said in a statement.

He was last seen on April 7 when he left for a solo mountain hike, two days before his 29th birthday. He was expected to return three days later.

His family described him as “one of the most loveliest men you could ever wish to meet”, adding he was an “extremely genuine and caring person.”

“It is with great sadness that we announce that his smile will no longer give such light, he will no longer calm through his touch, and wisdom through his word," they said in a statement.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped us fund out beloved Harry. His spirit will always be with us. From his loving family.”

Mr Greaves, a furniture maker originally from Oswestry, near Shropshire, was an experienced walker and had been on several outdoors holidays, according to his family.

He had arrived in Peru on 20 February, where he had attended a permaculture course and went on to meet friends in Pisac, near Coscou.

A search was launched by his friends and family, aided by the Lucie Blackman Trust, which scoured the area by land and helicopter.

Relatives set up a fund-raising page to fund the search, which reached £31,000.

The British Foreign Office confirmed the death and said: “Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time and our Embassy staff are continuing to support them.”

Additonal reporting by PA