The search continues for a 19-year-old man who was swept over Twin Falls, a 100-metre waterfall in Yoho National Park.
The search continues for a 19-year-old man who was swept over Twin Falls, a 100-metre waterfall in Yoho National Park.
Parks Canada’ s rescuers are treating the search as a recovery mission, believing there is no way the young Calgarian could have survived the fall.
Tania Peters, a spokesperson for Parks Canada, said he was hiking with three other people, including family members, when he fell.
“Nobody actually saw him fall. They don’ t know if tripped, slipped. He was there and then not there, but they know that happened,” she said.
“It’ s a very sad situation and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
About 1:30 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 13), the Golden-Field RCMP was advised that an emergency SPOT beacon had been activated near Takkakaw Falls east of Field, B.C.
Parks began an air and ground search for the man Sunday, but had to shut down by nightfall. The search resumed at first light Monday, but by late afternoon the man’ s body had still not been found.
Peters said there is an extensive area to cover, noting there are whirlpools within the falls and a large scree slope below. The search also includes Twin Falls Creek, which eventually flows into Yoho River.
“The terrain is very complex,” she said.
Parks Canada dog handler Mike Henderson and search and rescue dog Kaz are part of the search team. Rescuers from Jasper National Park with experience in swift water rescue are also at the scene.
Updates to come as more information becomes available.
