Colleagues of Alexander Harris have paid tribute to the British hiker and thanked search teams in Pakistan following the discovery of his body on a mountain forest path.

Mr Harris, a 30-year-old from Birmingham who also held Irish citizenship, went missing on Saturday during his descent from the summit of Musa Ka Musala, a peak of more than 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

In an expanded statement, his employer, the global advisory firm Adam Smith International, said staff were devastated by his death and described him as a "much loved member" of their team who had lived in Islamabad and learned Urdu.

The firm said: "We are deeply grateful to the hundreds of people who joined the search effort, including local residents, volunteers, police, rescue teams, forest department, members of Alex's trail running community, and the government of Pakistan that supported the operation. They searched tirelessly in difficult conditions, often in heavy rain, fog and poor visibility, over steep and challenging terrain."

The company added: "Our thoughts are with Alex's family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time. We remain focused on supporting his family."

Khalid Iqbal, the area's deputy commissioner, confirmed that searchers located Mr Harris's body in woodland, stating that "most probably he slipped and fell." Between 250 and 300 people took part in the search on foot and using drones, though aerial efforts were severely restricted by poor visibility.

Mr Harris, who was an experienced hiker and regular competitor in long-distance trail races across Pakistan, had set out with a companion at around 05:40 local time on Saturday. The pair reached the summit and took photographs before becoming separated during their descent. Mr Iqbal noted that the hikers had not registered their route with local authorities before setting off.

A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Pakistan and are in contact with the local authorities."

What remains unconfirmed are the exact circumstances surrounding how the two climbers became separated on the mountain. I will provide further updates as confirmed details emerge.