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Remains of missing British tourist Tom Billings confirmed to have been found

Hiker spotted remains on Cypress Mountain in early April, coroners service says
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Human remains found on Cypress Mountain last month have been confirmed to be those of 22-year-old missing British tourist Tom Billings, the BC Coroners Service said Friday.

Billings was last seen hiking in the North Shore mountains on Nov. 25, 2013. The Oxford, England, native was reported missing about a week later. He'd spent the the last eight weeks travelling through North America.

An extensive search, including members of the military, went on for months, but no sign of him was ever found.

Billings' father, Martin Billings, flew to Vancouver in December, to make an emotional plea to the public to help find his son.

On April 11, a hiker on Cypress Mountain spotted what were believed to be human remains and called police, the coroners service said. Additional crews were sent out to recover the body.

Identification specialists confirmed on Thursday the remains belonged to Billings.

Vancouver police said they called his family Thursday night and gave them the details in a two-hour conversation. Foul play is not suspected.

The Billings family has provided this statement through the VPD:

"The family wants to thank the general public for the support and assistance in the search to find their son Tom over the last 2 1/2 years.

"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."