A man in his 30s has died after being swept into the Capilano River on Sunday afternoon.
Four friends were fishing near Cable Pool on the Capilano when one of the men tried to cross the river, according to the RCMP. When the man lost his footing, one of his friends went in after him but was unable to reach him before the man was swept out of view.
The second friend was able to cling to a rock until he was rescued.
RCMP officers and members of West Vancouver and District of North Vancouver fire and rescue services found the man who had been swept away downstream a short while later. He was extracted from the river in medical distress and was brought to St. Paul's hospital in critical condition, according to the RCMP. He later died from his injuries.
The BC Coroner's Service now has conduct of the investigation, in partnership with the RCMP.
"It's just such a heartbreaking thing," said Sgt. Peter DeVries of the North Vancouver RCMP. "It was a beautiful sunny day (Sunday). The salmon are running. It was a perfect day to spend on the river with your fishing buddies. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."
North Vancouver's rivers can be dangerous, noted DeVries. They are subject to significant fluctuations in flow rate due to regular local weather events such as heavy rain or a warm day. "The beauty can be a bit disarming," he said. "Those rivers are much more powerful than they look." North Vancouver RCMP are reminding the public to always wear a lifejacket when fishing in local rivers or while boating.
