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The body of a young man who went missing while hiking in Squamish, B.C., has been found nearly 10 months later.
Police said Alexander Nguyen was sightseeing with his parents in Shannon Falls Provincial Park on July 1, 2025, when he vanished.
Search and rescue, along with Squamish RCMP, combed the area looking for the 20-year-old, but he was never found.
SAR said Nguyen’s last cellphone ping was at 3:30 p.m. PT on July 1 on the Sea-to-Summit trail, just past where it connects with upper Shannon Falls.
Shannon Falls is 335 metres above Highway 99, making it the third highest falls in British Columbia, according to B.C. Parks. (Anita Bathe/CBC)
Shannon Falls is a popular destination for people to visit and has a few hiking trails, including the Shannon Falls Pools Trail. The route, although short at 2.1 kilometres, weaves through the forest, requires scrambling up rocks and includes steep drop-offs into the waterfalls.
On April 24, police were notified that human remains had been found near Shannon Falls by people who were in the area.
Sea to Sky RCMP Insp. Robert Dykstra said the remains were recovered the next day and confirmed to be Nguyen.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Alexander, who have endured several months of uncertainty and pain while he remained missing,” Dykstra said.
A major search is underway for a man reported missing near Shannon Falls. Alexander Nguyen was last seen on Canada Day, hiking and sight-seeing with his parents. Squamish RCMP say they are working with Squamish Search and Rescue to comb the area.
Police said no foul play is suspected, and the police investigation is now closed.
Squamish Search and Rescue manager Sue Nicholson said they were tasked by RCMP to recover the remains near Shannon Falls.
“Very steep terrain, very, very cliffy and some logs we had to hike over,” Nicholson said. “It was hikers that found the remains.”
She offered condolences to Nguyen’s family and friends.
The B.C. Coroners Service said its investigation remains open, but no further details or information can be shared at this time.
Dykstra is reminding the public that hiking in Squamish can be challenging.
“Hiking areas around the Stawamus Chief, Shannon Falls, and other backcountry areas in the [area] can be challenging and dangerous if you are not prepared,” Dykstra said.
He said everyone recreating outdoors needs to bring adequate water and food, wear proper clothing, check the weather and choose terrain wisely based on experience level.
Three people died at Shannon Falls Provincial Park back in 2018. (CBC News)
The area is known to be dangerous. Three hikers died at Shannon Falls back in 2018.
Ryker Gamble, Alexey Lyakh and Megan Scraper were Vancouver residents and died after an accident at the falls.
Witnesses reported seeing Scraper slip and fall from the rocks at the top of the falls, into the strong current. Two men apparently jumped in the water to try to save her.