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 search, acknowledged Canadian rescue teams were risking their lives performing "one of the most dangerous search and recovery operations" they have conducted.
"Today the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have made the decision to cease the search for Sophie Dowsley who went missing 15 days ago," Ms Dowsley's brother, Jamie, wrote in a heartfelt message on Facebook.
"This decision has been made on the basis that there are no plausible or conceivable areas left to search.
"After visiting this area and gaining an understanding of the terrain and conditions our family fully accept this decision."
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The waterfall has a history of fatalities and its terrain and trails are challenging for experienced hikers.
Searchers, including dog teams, had to be flown in by helicopter.
"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," he wrote.
"Every day you put your lives at risk to find Sophie and we thank you for that."
The water search will resume "when nature allows" but the Dowsley's "understand that Sophie may never be found".
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