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Coroner confirms remains belong to German tourist

Yukon's corner has confirmed human remains found in Kluane National Park are that of a missing German tourist.
p4kluaneremains

Yukon’s corner has confirmed human remains found in Kluane National Park are that of a missing German tourist.

It took DNA tests to officially confirm the remains belong to Till Moritz Gerull, who arrived in the Yukon in the summer of 2011.

Gerull told his family he “planned on walking through the forests of Canada,” according to police.

The RCMP reached out to the public for help a year later when Gerull, 24, did not make his return flight home.

Yukon’s chief coroner, Kirsten Macdonald, has so far not released a cause of death. In her statement, she said the investigation is ongoing but the death is not considered suspicious.

Some remains were first found late last fall near Hoge Creek on the Donjek route. Police held off looking for more until the weather warmed up.

Last month RCMP confirmed that a backpack found next to the remains belonged to Gerull.

A more complete search was launched and more remains were found.

About 25 people were involved, including officers with the RCMP, search-and-rescue volunteers from Whitehorse and Haines Junction, Parks Canada officials, representation from the coroner’s office and a police search dog team.

Macdonald called the search effort “nothing short of remarkable.”

She said her office has been in contact with Gerull’s family and that they “request the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.”

Parks Canada calls the Donjek route “One of the most popular hikes for wilderness enthusiasts.”

The route takes about eight to 10 days to hike and is about 100 to 120 kilometres long.

Contact Ashley Joannou at

ashleyj@yukon-news.com