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No foul play in death

UPDATE: 4:42 p.m.

Hikers discovered a man’s body Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. below one of the trestle bridges in the Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park, but police have ruled out any foul play in the death.

By the time resources were mobilized to remove the body from the area Monday, it had become too dark, so RCMP and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue removed the body Tuesday afternoon, using a helicopter.

"The investigation is now in the hands of the Coroner," said Const. Steve Holmes of the Kelowna RCMP. "Police would, however, like to recognize the invaluable efforts of the Search and Rescue volunteers from the Kelowna and Penticton areas."


UPDATE: 3:15 p.m.

Search and rescue from Kelowna and Penticton have recovered a man's body from below trestle seven in Myra Canyon.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue spokesman Rod Braun confirmed the body was retrieved this afternoon.

Braun said COSAR received a call from RCMP about 7 p.m. Monday night but were unable to get to the location before darkness fell.

"We decided to provide more resources today. Penticton Search and Rescue and Central Okanagan Search and Rescue were involved," said Braun.

In all, seven members from Penticton and four from COSAR took part in the recovery.

"We were able to provide assistance to the RCMP in terms of accessing the site, and then bringing the deceased person out," he said.

"We utilized the Helicopter External Transport System to bring both the responders and the subject out."

The Myra Canyon Trestles and the parking lot above McCulloch Road were both closed while rescuers recovered the body.

Both have since reopened.

RCMP have yet to identify the victim or release any information pertaining to his death.


ORIGINAL

Emergency officials are in the Myra Canyon area for what is likely a body recovery mission.

There has been no official confirmation, however, witnesses in the area describe seeing yellow police tape near the entrance to the park.

"There were RCMP vehicles everywhere," one witness told Castanet.

"There were two gentlemen in a mini van with tags around their neck saying body removal services. They said they were waiting for a helicopter."

Another witness says someone had fallen from one of the trestles.

Castanet has a reporter heading to the scene.



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