Missing British tourist Tom Billings focus of trail search

North Shore Search and Rescue crews have been searching for a missing British tourist since early Wednesday morning.

Thomas Billings, 22, was reported missing this week after failing to follow through with his planned travel itinerary in and around Vancouver. Billings, a seasoned traveller and avid hiker, had previously discussed going hiking on the North Shore, which includes North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

Tim Jones, search and rescue team leader and spokesman, said that tips submitted to the police placed Billings on the North Shore. By Wednesday afternoon, searchers were following tracks that were spotted by helicopter.

"We are not sure if these are the tracks of Mr. Billings, but because of the areas that we have been searching, we feel like we need to close off on these tracks," Jones said. "We have field teams above and below these tracks."

The Vancouver Police Department confirmed Wednesday that it had requested the search and rescue effort after a public appeal for tips Tuesday.

"Several credible tips to the VPD have now come in about the missing British tourist," the police department said Wednesday afternoon in a written statement. "Police have requested the exploration of an area on the North Shore by search and rescue teams."

Billings was reported missing this week after failing to follow through with his planned travel itinerary. 

Billings was to have left the Vancouver area and enter the U.S. at the end of November, with a scheduled return trip to England on Dec. 7, but his family and friends lost contact with him last week. A previous report from the Vancouver Police Department said Billings was last seen in the 1400 block of East Broadway Ave. on Nov. 25.