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West Kelowna  

Avid walker found dead

UPDATE: 10:25 p.m.

A body found in a wooded area near Smith Creek Road in West Kelowna on Sunday has been identified as a missing 72-year-old man.

RCMP and the BC Coroners Service have positively identified the body as Lawrence Hamilton.

Hamilton was last seen exactly two weeks ago leaving a long term care facility called Lakeview Lodge located on Butt Road.

He left the facility at 3 p.m., after visiting with his mother and it is believed he headed out for a walk. Hamilton was known to walk up to 70 kilometres in a single day.

“RCMP have since notified Lawrence’s family of his tragic passing. We are deeply saddened and would like to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences, to both his family and friends, during this difficult time," said RCMP Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey.

Numerous search and rescue crews from across the valley spent over one week scouring numerous areas of West Kelowna in hopes of finding him, but could not find anything.

The investigation has now been turned over to the BC Coroners Service, since the death was not deemed suspicious. 

Lawrence's family has requested privacy during this time.


ORIGINAL: 2:22 p.m. 

A body has been found near Smith Creek Trails in West Kelowna on Sunday.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue headed to the scene after being alerted by RCMP just after 1 p.m. 

The exact location of where the body was found is not being released at this time and Castanet will update as more information is provided.

COSAR manager Coralie Nairn said she could not confirm the identity of the body at this time.

This comes just two weeks after a 72-year-old man vanished from a location nearby, off Butt Road.

Lawrence Hamilton was known to be an avid walker and a large search was conducted by SAR members but did not lead to any clues.

The search for Hamilton was just recently suspended after search teams from Penticton, Kamloops, Nicola Valley, Oliver, Osoyoos and Vernon covered more than 1,660 kilometres searching for him.



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