Rescue crews are scouring an area near Cypress Mountain for a 52-year-old man who’s already been missing for nine days.
White Rock resident Neville Jewell hasn’t been heard from since Sept. 12, when he parked his car on Cypress and went for what was supposed to be a short trip.
“We think he may have carried some water and a small snack, something of that nature, but we don’t believe he had any intention of staying out overnight,” Peter Haigh of North Shore Rescue said.
Jewell, who is a father, sent a text to his girlfriend that day saying he was on the West Lion and feeling tired.
For reasons unknown, nobody reported Jewell missing before Sunday. Police said they only learned about his disappearance after Cypress Mountain staff started investigating why there was an abandoned vehicle in their parking lot.
“I don’t know why anybody didn’t report him missing earlier,” Haigh said.
Because it’s been so long, and authorities don’t believe Jewell was equipped to be in the wilderness long, the search was desperate from the outset.
On Monday, family members joined the effort, along with crews from Lions Bay, Surrey, Coquitlam and Mission.
A helicopter was also used to survey key locations all over Cypress Mountain and Lions Bay, but so far there has been no sign of Jewell.
Anyone who may have seen him, or who has been in contact with him in the last few days, is asked to contact the West Vancouver Police Department.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s St. John Alexander
