THE wife of a 69-year-old missing man has thanked the “amazing community response” that led to his rescue after a 23-hour ordeal on a mountainside.

Hundreds of Abergavenny residents turned out to search for retired GP Huw Morgan on Saturday morning, alongside air rescue, Longtown Mountain Rescue, police, fire and paramedic staff after he was reported missing on Friday afternoon.

A search operation through the night failed to locate him, and was expanded by the community joining the search next morning after more than 1,200 people joined a Facebook group to look for him.

Mr Morgan, a fitness fan who had been due to fly out this week to visit his daughter in Australia, was thought to have gone walking in the Little Skirrid Hill or Castle Meadow area when he disappeared.

And he was eventually found cold but alive next afternoon by mountain rescue team members on Skirrid Fach, hiding in a den he had made to shelter from driving rain.

Wife Mary posted on Sunday: “Sorry I’m late writing a message to everyone. I’ve only recently seen this group and can’t believe there are over 1,000 members!

“Words can’t start to express my gratitude for the amazing response from so many people which ultimately led to finding Huw after 23 hours in his hidden den.

“He left the path by just a few metres to shelter from the rain and then he had a medical incident as he has no memory of events for several hours and has no memory of building his den that concealed him so well, even from the helicopters, drones and search dogs.

“We’ll always be so grateful to the mountain rescue man who detected some disturbed undergrowth and when he called, Huw’s hand came up! He’s still in hospital recovering and having tests but should be home soon.”

She added: “Can I take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to everyone, I just wish I could personally thank you all but it’s demonstrated the most wonderful community spirit we have in Abergavenny.

“All the love and prayers upheld me during the long hours of waiting.

“The police, mountain rescue services, ambulance and fire services were brilliant and we owe them much gratitude.

“The police asked me to thank you all for the amazing community response, they were really struck by the strength of support shown by so many people.

“Special thanks go to Abergavenny Baptist Church for coordinating some of the searches and organising refreshments.

“Thanks too to Sugar Loaf catering, Morrisons and Tesco for the supplies they provided.

“Now there’s been such a wonderful positive outcome, I trust you can all enjoy focusing on this Christmas season ahead and may the wonderful community spirit continue and mean no one is left out and forgotten this Christmas.”

Shortly after his discovery, which happened around 1.30pm, she also posted: “I’m so pleased to be able to say Huw has just been found on the Little Skirrid.

“He’s OK and is cold but not hypothermic. He’s being brought down the mountain and taken to hospital.

“Thank you so much everyone who has helped in any way to achieve this amazing result. Abergavenny is such an amazing caring community.”

Daughter Ruth Canning posted from Australia on Abergavenny Voice: “He is conscious, but has had a medical episode. We are so relieved and can’t thank the community enough.

“Thank you all so much for people helping find my Dad Huw Morgan… I am unfortunately in Australia and can’t be there to help, so all the support means so much.”

She added: “We still can’t quite believe dad is safe. After missing for 24 hours on a mountain in winter, we were fearing the worst.

“Amazingly Dad had managed to build a shelter in a tree. A move that undoubtedly saved his life.”

A Longtown Mountain Rescue spokesperson said: “At 10pm on Friday evening the team were contacted by Gwent Police asking for our assistance in the search for a local missing man from Abergavenny.

“The team responded with around 20 personnel and a dog team from Search and Rescue Dog Association South Wales, who were involved with searching Skirrid Fach and the surrounding area until 6am.

“At 11am on Saturday the team were back out to continue their land search but also with a water boat team searching parts of the Usk.

“Due to the phenomenal public response and concern for the missing man, the team made a plan with the police to support the members of public who wanted to help with the search.

“This resulted in many parties going onto the hill with members of the public led by Mountain Rescue personnel.

“At approximately 1.30pm, and after being missing for nearly 24 hours, MR team members successfully found the missing gentleman on Skirrid Fach.

“After assessment and treatment by team medics, he was quickly evacuated and transferred to a waiting ambulance for further treatment.

“The team would like to wish the man a full and speedy recovery and Christmas wishes to all his family.

“We would also like to thank the public for their help and support over the last 24 hours.”

Gwent Police posted after his discovery: “Good news – James Huw Morgan, from Abergavenny, who was reported as missing, has been found.

“We would like to say a big thank you to the community for their help and support.”