The search for missing British tourist Tom Billings has been wrapped up now after getting re-activated following a social media tip about a possible sighting last month.
Tim Jones with North Shore Rescue says they received a tip that two female hikers may have seen Billings in the Lynn Headwaters area on November 25.
If weater permits, NSR plans to conduct another aerial search Sunday of the Lynn Headwaters area after scouring the Hanes Valley area last night.
GALLERY: Breakthrough in the search for Billings
On Friday, NSR released three videos of their search at Grouse Mountain and Lynn Headwaters in hopes the public may be able to capture and report something that may assist in locating Billings.
One of the hikers saw a Tweet mentioning the videos, which jogged her memory about the sighting.
The tip resulted in the re-activation of the search at the request of Vancouver Police and North Vancouver RCMP.
Randy Fincham with Vancouver police confirmed to Global News they are continuing their search for the missing tourist.
“As tips are received, the Vancouver Police will continue to utilize partnerships with outside agencies, including North Shore Search and Rescue, to ensure that those tips are followed up by experts in the field,” says Fincham.
Jones says the search has now been authorized by Emergency Management B.C.
“We have to be very careful in saying that this is a possible sighting, but this is very credible information,” says Jones. “We have the direction of travel. We feel that he is somewhere in the Haines Valley/ Crown Creek area, and our intent is to get our members into that drainage tomorrow.”
Jones says it would be an absolute miracle to find Billings alive.
“The survivability is almost nil at this time,” says Jones.
North Shore Rescue are planning one more major search next weekend.
READ MORE: NSR posts search videos; hopes for public’s help locating missing British tourist
The Billings family is paying for the search effort.
Earlier this month, Billings’ father travelled all the way to Vancouver from the U.K. and made an emotional plea for any tips that would lead to his son’s return.
Twenty-two-year-old Thomas Billings went missing on November 25 and was last seen in the 1400-block of East Broadway. He was supposed to go to the U.S. at the end of the month, and return to England on Dec. 7.
Billings was known to hike when he travelled. His family says he is a very experienced hiker and he has hiked all over the world.
Billings is described as white, 5’7” tall, 160 lbs., with blonde short hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and grey military style pants.
Anyone with information on the disappearance of Tom Billings is asked to call the Vancouver Police Department.
First video posted by North Shore Rescue:
Second video posted by North Shore Rescue:
Third video posted by North Shore Rescue:
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