RCMP call off search for missing Australian woman near Agassiz
Sophie Dowsley presumed dead after a personal item is found at the bottom of a treacherous waterfall
The search for missing Australian Sophie Dowsley has been called off, with the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP saying all efforts to locate her have been exhausted.
"A thorough ground and air search of the region has been conducted for Sophie. Although the initial land and air search is suspended, our missing person investigation remains open," said Cpl. Mike Rail. "RCMP remain in close contact with her family."
Dowsely, 34 and her partner, Gregory James Tiffin, were last seen July 8 at a business in Harrison Hot Springs. It is believed they were setting out for a hike. The couple was reported missing July 10.
Tiffin's body was recovered by the RCMP underwater recovery team July 19 near Statlu Lake, north of Agassiz .
Clues led searchers to an area around a waterfall which is known to be particularly treacherous and steep and had been the site of previous fatalities.
On social media, Dowsely's brother Jamie announced that a personal item of Sophie's had been found below the waterfall.
"This decision [to call off the search] has been made on the basis that there are no plausible or conceivable areas left to search," he wrote. "After visiting this area and gaining an understanding of the terrain and conditions, our family fully accepts this decision."
"We would like to put out a special thank you to the RCMP, the Emergency Response Teams, the Police Dog Service, the expert dive team and especially the many volunteer Search and Rescue teams.
"We acknowledge that this is one of the most dangerous search and recovery operations that you have ever conducted. Every day, you put your lives at risk to find Sophie and we thank you for that."