The BC Coroners Service has confirmed that human remains found near Hardy Mountain last month belonged to Owen Rooney.
The 24-year-old electrician from Australian went missing inĀ Grand Forks nearly seven years ago.
Rooney left Boundary Hospital in Grand Forks onĀ Aug. 14, 2010, leaving his belongings behind. He had been hitchhiking back to Kelowna where he was living after a trip to the Shambhala music festival. Despite extensive searches at the time, he wasn’t located. His family spent more than six months in Canada looking for him.
While on a training exercise on June 10, Grand Forks Search and Rescue found what they believed to be human remains in a bush near the bottom of a steep cliff near the base of Hardy Mountain. Post-mortem testing co-ordinated by the BC Coroners Service has confirmed the remains are those of Mr. Rooney.
They continue to investigate the cause and manner of Rooney’s death.
In a Facebook post (pictured below) the family said “emotionally digesting” the news is a challenge, but they “take solace in the fact that we can bring him home to us.”
They also thanked Grand Forks Search and Rescue for their efforts.
