The BC Coroners Service has confirmed that remains found on Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver last month are those of British tourist Tom Billings, missing for the past 2 ½ years.

Mr. Billings, aged 22 and originally from Oxford, England, was last seen hiking in the North Shore mountains on the afternoon of Nov. 25, 2013. He was reported missing about a week later after he failed to complete his travel plans. He had been spending eight weeks travelling in North America.

A large-scale search that followed his disappearance failed to find any trace of him.

On April 11, 2016, a hiker on Cypress Mountain spotted what he believed to be human remains and reported this discovery to the police. North Shore Search and Rescue returned to the area some days later and completed more of the recovery operation.

Identification specialists with the BC Coroners Service now have confirmed that the deceased male found was, in fact, Mr. Billings. The BC Coroners Service continues to investigate this death. Foul play is not suspected.

Mr. Billings’s family has been notified of this identification. On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service asks that media respect their privacy at this difficult time.