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BC Coroners Service identifies Green River accident vicitm

Swiss visitor slipped into river near Pemberton
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The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died after falling into a river near Pemberton on June 15, 2014.

He is Otto Josef Weber, aged 63, of Zurich, Switzerland.

Weber was witnessed to fall into the Green River near Pemberton. The river was running very quickly and was very cold because of spring run-off; as a result, Mr. Weber was not able to rescue himself, nor could others present rescue him.

He was located about four kilometres downriver the next day, but was deceased at the scene.

The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death.

The BC Coroners Service would like to extend special thanks to Pemberton Search and Rescue for their invaluable assistance in this case.

Previously reported

Search and rescue personnel retrieved a man's body from Green River Monday, June 16, a day after receiving witness reports of a Swiss tourist who slipped and fell into the river.

The BC Coroners Service has not yet determined if the body is that of the missing man, a 63-year-old Swiss citizen.

Just after 1 p.m. Sunday, June 15, police received a call that a male on a side trail near Nairn Falls fell into the river while attempting to climb his way back to a main trail.

"He was swept away at that point," said Whistler RCMP Sgt. Rob Knapton. "I understand the river is going pretty strong right now."

Police do not believe the death was suspicious.

Pemberton Search and Rescue combed the area for signs of the missing man on Sunday evening before resuming the search the following morning. The body was recovered at 8:30 a.m., approximately 2.5 kilometres south of the Green River Forest Service Road bridge.