Search called off for B.C. man missing on rugged trail north of Vancouver

WEST VANCOUVER, B.C. – Searchers on Vancouver’s North Shore have made the tough decision to call off a search for a 52-year-old White Rock, B.C., man.

Officials with North Shore Rescue say that after consulting with police and the Provincial Emergency Program, the search for Neville Jewell has ended, unless new information surfaces.

Jewell sent a text to a friend on Sept. 12, saying he was on the rugged Howe Sound Crest Trail between Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver and Lions Bay, north of Vancouver.

A search began after an abandoned car in the Cypress Mountain parking lot was traced to Jewell on Sept. 20., but there was no trace of him.

West Vancouver Police said the inexperienced hiker was carrying few supplies when he set out on the trek that is considered demanding, even for veteran outdoor enthusiasts.

In the hours after the search was suspended, a friend of the Jewell family posted a note on the North Shore Rescue website, thanking searchers for their dedication.