Aussie hiker search ends

THE family of missing Australian hiker Sophie Dowsley have made the heartbreaking announcement the search for her in treacherous and remote Canadian wilderness has been called off and she may never be found.

Dowsley’s Canadian boyfriend Greg Tiffin, 44, was found on Tuesday near Statlu Lake’s beautiful but deadly waterfall, about three hours drive east of Vancouver.

One of Ms Dowsley’s personal items was discovered below the waterfall.

The 34-year-old’s family members, who went to Canada to help in the exhaustive search, acknowledged Canadian rescue teams were risking their lives performing “one of the most dangerous search and recovery operations” ever conducted.