Steven Harper, a 38-year-old Scottish cyclist and father of two children, met a tragic end during his ambitious cycling trip from Dundee, Scotland, to India.
His journey was tragically cut short after he fell from a cliff near Ventimiglia, Italy, near the French-Italian border, on November 23, 2023.
Before his untimely death, Harper faced several challenges. While in Nice, France, he was robbed of his bicycle, passport, and other belongings.
In his final texts to his sister-in-law, he said he had prepared a meal with wild mushrooms near Monaco and was feeling ill. His family believes the mushrooms may have contained amatoxin, a dangerous substance known for causing severe liver damage, kidney failure, and other potentially fatal health complications. His fall reportedly occurred just hours after his message to his family.
The search for Harper intensified when his family lost contact with him after his last message on November 23. Dale Harper, Steven’s older brother, traveled to France in November last year to retrace his brother’s steps but returned to Dundee without any leads.
It was not until late December 2023 that Dale was informed about the discovery of a body matching Steven’s description. In early January 2024, Dale flew to Italy to identify his brother. Steven’s body had been kept in a morgue in Sanremo, unidentified.
Dale Harper shared that Steven was well-equipped for his journey, choosing to live off the land as part of his adventurous spirit. Despite having sufficient resources, Steven opted for a more natural and self-sustaining approach, which tragically included foraging for wild mushrooms.
The local authorities in Italy reported that Harper was seen falling from a cliff overlooking the harbor in Ventimiglia. Workers at a nearby construction site witnessed the incident and rushed to assist him.
Despite the immediate dispatch of a helicopter, Harper died from internal bleeding caused by the fall. This information was confirmed by the Italian police report.
The Harper family is currently awaiting a toxicology report to confirm the exact cause of Steven’s disorientation and subsequent fall. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office of the United Kingdom has acknowledged their involvement, confirming that they are assisting Harper’s family and coordinating with local authorities in Italy.
Harper’s mother, Angela Bear, expressed her grief over the loss of her adventurous son, who she said was living his best life and aimed to inspire others to explore the world.