Remains Of British Tourist Found In Canada

The remains of a British tourist who went missing while hiking in Canada more than two years ago have been found, according to police.

Tom Billings, from Oxford, had been spending eight weeks travelling in North America and was visiting Vancouver in November 2013.

The 22-year-old seasoned traveller was last seen on 25 November in the city and was reported missing a week later after he failed to return to his accommodation.

Investigators with the Vancouver Police Department said information indicated that Mr Billings had gone to the mountains on the North Shore, where he was believed to have become lost or injured.

A large search operation following his disappearance failed to find any trace of him.

On 11 April this year, a hiker on Cypress Mountain spotted human remains and reported the discovery to police. North Shore Search and Rescue then returned to the area and Mr Billings' remains were recovered.

The Coroners Service confirmed it was Mr Billings through DNA identification. No foul play is suspected in his death, police said.

Mr Billings' father Martin issued an emotional appeal for help in finding his son during a news conference in Vancouver in December 2013.

He said he had last exchanged emails with his son, who had recently graduated from university, when he was in Seattle.

At the time, he said his son had been using a "window" before starting postgraduate research to explore North America by hitch-hiking, travelling by bus and "couch surfing" - staying with hosts he met on the internet.

A statement on behalf of his family thanked the public for their "support and assistance" in trying to find Tom.

It added: "The family specifically wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the members of the North Shore Search and Rescue team and the helicopter pilots of Talon Aviation, the staff and members of the British consulate in Vancouver for all their continued support, and finally to the VPD in general and the Missing Persons Unit in particular for their continued and persistent work to find their son Tom."