Photo: Colton Davies

Gold Creek in Golden Ears Provincial Park

A 21-year-old man visiting from Toronto lost his life while hiking with friends in Golden Ears Provincial Park on Monday.

Ridge Meadows RCMP say they activated Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue after a hiker fell from a waterfall.

The incident happened at approximately 8 p.m., after police received a call from BC Ambulance indicating the 21-year-old man, who was visiting from Toronto, was swept away by the current from Gold Creek in Golden Ears Provincial Park.  A second man, a 21-year-old Abbotsford resident, tried to help and both were carried over the falls.  Luckily the Abbotsford man was found downstream with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital.

Search and Rescue searched until nightfall but was called off at 10 p.m.

The search resumed this morning and, tragically, at around 10 a.m., a body believed to be that of the missing Toronto hiker has been found and recovered from a pool of water in the park.

“No one expects this sad of an outcome when you are visiting our local parks and our sincerest condolences are offered to the Toronto man’s family and friends,” states Staff Sergeant Parm Prihar.  “We thank Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue for their assistance and dedication in helping to find and recover this person.”