Two people drowned in separate incidents in Squamish-area waterways last week.
A young Vancouver man drowned after jumping into a waterfall in the Mamquam River downstream from a B.C. Hydro power plant just off the Mamquam Forest Service Road.
The victim, 18-year-old Daniel Rezmer, was a student at Quest University. He was one of two people who was in distress because of the powerful currents in the river late Wednesday (Sept. 11), prompting a response from Squamish Fire and Rescue, Squamish Search and Rescue and police, Squamish RCMP Sgt. Wayne Pride wrote in a statement issued Thursday (Sept. 12).
The two were among "a number of youths" who were jumping into the river, Pride said. A rescue operation was launched after two showed signs of distress. One was rescued, but those present - including workers from the power plant - were unable to rescue the other swimmer, he said.
"The search for the male continued into the night but had to be called off due to safety concerns, given the location and condition of the water," Pride wrote.
The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team was advised of the situation and authorities evaluated the scene early Thursday, with the intention of trying to recover the victim's body. The search was called off after officials determined that the currents were too dangerous to attempt a recovery, Pride said. Rezmer's body has not yet been recovered, he said.
On Saturday (Sept. 14), meanwhile, police received a report of a man having fallen into the Squamish River west of the Elaho Bridge along Upper Squamish Valley Road, Pride said.
When police arrived, they found search-and-rescue and other emergency personnel at the scene. A 30-year-old man from North Vancouver had fallen into the river while climbing on some rocks, Pride said.
Search and rescue located the man's personal effects but because of the strong currents, was unable to recover his body that day. The body of the victim, whose name has not been released, was recovered on Sunday (Sept. 15) at around 3 p.m. near where he was last seen.
