Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
A BODY was discovered during the search of a missing US father and cyclist who disappeared from Andalucia last January.
Matt Opperman (50) disappeared after driving into the Segura de la Sierra area of Jaen. His family believes he rode his bike in this region.
Since his disappearance on 25 January, hundreds of volunteers, assisted by Guardia Civil officers and sniffer dogs as well as drones and helicopters, have taken part in the search.
According to Malaga Hoy, the force today said that it had found a body next to a bicycle near the Peña del Olivar in Siles, Jaen.
They have not identified the body yet, but believe it to be Matt. A process of identification is under way.
According to reports volunteers who took part in the search found the body.
It comes after his brother Marc told the Olive Press the family were ‘worried beyond belief’ and were on standby to fly over from the US in the event of a ‘significant update’.
Footage shared previously with Olive Press The video showed a helicopter scouring trees with binoculars as Guardia Civil officials watched.
Marc previously told the Olive Press: “Matt’s professional work with various bike companies – Trek Factory Racing, Rocky Mountain Cycles, and now Yeti Cycles – has always had him traveling the globe in support of professional riders.
He’s a respected and well-liked head mechanic who has worked with many teams including the Australian MTB Team at the Rio Olympics of 2016.
“It wasn’t uncommon for him spend the entire summer race season at different points on the globe each week. His work has been largely in Western Europe.
Matt’s family is originally from Ohio. He lived in Houston, Texas as well as Longmont, Colorado for most of his cycling career, both professionally and personally.
