Canadian search teams, risking their lives in treacherous rapid river conditions, have found the body of missing Australian hiker Sophie Dowsley near a picturesque wilderness waterfall.
Ms Dowsley, 34, and her Canadian partner, Gregory James Tiffin, 44, disappeared on July 10 while hiking near Statlu Falls, about three hours’ drive east of Vancouver.
Some of their personal items were found at the top of the falls and Mr Tiffin’s body was found at the base on July 19.
Canadian search teams have found the body of missing Australian hiker Sophie Dowsley, 34, (pictured) near a picturesque wilderness waterfall more than two months after she disappeared
Ms Dowsley (pictured) and her Canadian partner, Gregory James Tiffin, 44, disappeared on July 10 while hiking near Statlu Falls, about three hours’ drive east of Vancouver
Some of their personal items were found at the top of the falls and Mr Tiffin’s (pictured) body was found at the base on July 19
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and volunteer Kent Harrison Search and Rescue teams, driven to give closure to Ms Dowsley’s Australian family, never gave up and discovered her remains on September 23.
They announced the discovery on Wednesday after confirming her identity.
Lower water levels helped their search as rope rescue and swift water rescue technicians scoured waterfall canyons and a boulder-strewn river.
‘There were places that we wanted to look into but we just couldn’t get to them,’ Agassiz RCMP spokesman Mike Rail said on Wednesday.
Ms Dowsley, originally from Melbourne, had lived in Canada for about three years.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and volunteer Kent Harrison Search and Rescue teams, driven to give closure to Ms Dowsley’s (pictured) Australian family, never gave up and discovered her remains on September 23
Authorities announced the discovery on Wednesday after confirming her identity (pictured)
Ms Dowsley (pictured), originally from Melbourne, had lived in Canada for about three years
She set out with Mr Tiffin for a day hike to Statlu Lake on July 8 and concerns were raised for their safety four days later.
‘Discovery of Sophie’s remains brings closure, not only for family and friends, but for the volunteers who were heavily invested in finding Sophie,’ Kent Harrison Search and Rescue search manager Neil Brewer said.
‘This was a difficult search in very technical terrain.
‘It involved not only unpaid SAR volunteers, but technical specialists from the RCMP underwater recovery team and emergency response team, along with some very skilled helicopter pilots.’
The British Columbia Coroners Service is investigating the deaths.
Some of Dowsley’s personal belongings were found at the bottom of the waterfall (pictured) near where Tiffin was found