BC

Photo: CTV

A third body has been recovered from the site of the Johnsons Landing mudslide.

The BC Coroners Service confirmed the body of Rachel Webber, 17, was recovered by searchers about 6 p.m. Wednesday, the first day of the resumption of recovery efforts.

Her body was located near the front of what had been her family's home in Johnsons Landing.

Her father Valentine, 60 and older sister Diana, 22, had been located in the same proximity during searches July 15 and 16.

Following two days or searching last week the BC Coroners Service suspended the search effort to re-assess the reasonable likelihood of finding more victims along with potential risks to searchers.

"I cannot express my thanks strongly enough to all our partners in this effort," says chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe.

"Special thanks must go to all the volunteers from Kaslo Search and Rescue and their manager Bruce Walker, to the local ambulance, fire and RCMP members, our colleagues at Emergency Management BC and to forensic analyst Bob
Stair who pinpointed with such accuracy the best locations to search in a debris field that covers more than 80 acres."

A fourth victim, Petra Frehse, 64, remains missing.

Lapointe confirmed that no further efforts would be undertaken to try and locate her body.

She says a sizable excavation effort was completed at the former site of her residence but, because of the absence of artifacts recovered and due to the catastrophic impact of the slide at that site, experts have concluded there is no reasonable likelihood of locating her.