Central Okanagan

It was a freak accident that claimed the life of Tracy De Montezuma.

The body of the 52-year-old Lake Country hunter was found last Wednesday, four days after he was reported missing while on a hunting trip in the vicinity of Wilma Lake.

Coroner Barb McLintock says De Montezuma died from an accidental gun shot wound.

McLintock says he was in very rough terrain when the accident occurred.

"It looks like he was probably trying to get himself and the gun over some windfall from some logs, and the gun went off," says McLintock. 

"I'm not sure precisely how it occurred but, unfortunately, the bullet hit him in the torso."

McLintock says death would have been very quick.

Several search teams from around the Okanagan took part in the search before he was located a short distance away from where his vehicle had been located.