NORTH The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a male hiker who was discovered off a backcountry trail near North Vancouver on June 27, 2012.

The man has been identified as missing German exchange-student Jasper Houben, aged 22.

Mr. Houben's family had flown in from Germany to help in the search for their son when hikers discovered Mr. Houben's body and informed the RCMP. The family of Mr. Houben has been notified of his death.

Many people worked hard to find Mr Houben after he was reported missing on June 25, 2012, including RCMP Investigators and many of his friends who put up posters, launched a social media campaign, and walked the streets of Vancouver looking for him.

The BC Coroners Service offers its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Houben, as well as its appreciation for the assistance provided by North Vancouver RCMP and the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, combined with the support of the North Shore Search and Rescue helicopter.

Mr. Houben's death underscores the risks posed to hikers on the North Shore, and highlights the need for hikers to inform themselves about the terrain's dangers, prepare adequately for the environment and ensure that others know when and where they will be hiking and their planned return time.

The BC Coroners Service, assisted by the RCMP, continues to investigate this death.

For further information, please contact:

Robert Fisher
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9326