Hiker, 28, sent mystery final message to family before deadly fall on 3,100-mile trek as family pay tribute

THE family of a hiker who disappeared during a gruelling 3,100-mile trek has revealed his last message to them.

Will Standish, 28, was found dead beneath a steep, high-altitude ridge on a Wyoming trail – over five days after sending a mysterious satellite check-in containing no coordinates or written message.

It was the final contact the Australian had made with his family, alongside a video sent through Facebook Messenger, which they believe placed him in the Tetons National Park.

When no further messages arrived, they contacted park officials four days later.

A major search was launched across the wilderness between Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Teton County Search and Rescue deployed a helicopter to the coordinates obtained through Will’s Garmin watch – his last known location.

From the air, they spotted a bright orange backpack and soon found his body.

Evidence suggests he may have fallen from the ridgeline separating Grand Teton National Park and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness.

Matt Carr, the Teton County sheriff, said Will had plunged 250 to 300 feet, but admitted that he was a very experienced hiker who kept up a good pace on the trail and had all the right supplies.

“He was doing everything right,” the sheriff said.