Missing driver found dead in lake after landslide near Kelowna, B.C.: SAR

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Apr 13, 2025 7:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

A hunt and rescue squad successful Kelowna, B.C., says a missing idiosyncratic was recovered dormant connected Saturday, astir 155 feet (47 metres) deep successful a lake, aft being swept distant successful a "massive mudslide" earlier this month.  

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations said the landslide happened connected Westside Road astatine astir 9:45 p.m. PT connected April 1, shutting down the roadworthy successful some directions. 

The slide sent much than 20,000 tons of debris crossed the road and into the Okanagan Lake, according to the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR).

The hunt and rescue squad responded to the country connected April 1 to measure if anyone could person been swept distant successful the slide. Initially, nary 1 was reported missing, but a fewer days later, the squad was told a operator whitethorn person been travelling done the area.

WATCH | Landslide shuts roadworthy betwixt Vernon and West Kelowna: 

West Kelowna RCMP launched a missing idiosyncratic investigation, and Central Okanagan and Vernon SARs began to hunt the area.

RCMP said some "unique items" believed to beryllium to the missing idiosyncratic had been located successful the area. 

COSAR hunt manager Ed Henczel told CBC News past week that crews had done a expanse of the country astatine the clip of the slide, including by boat, but sediment successful the h2o had prevented them from doing a afloat assessment.

He said the items recovered that led investigators to judge a idiosyncratic was swept distant successful the descent included a footwear that matched the footwear size of the missing person, wrong doorway panels from a vehicle, propane canisters, a cooler and a blistery tub cover.

Henczel said the descent had been caused by a usually tiny creek that had go dammed, starring to a important build-up of water.

"When it blew, it was hitting trees 7 metres precocious ... ripping monolithic trees retired of the ground," helium said.

"It was a large one."

The hunt and rescue squad says they spent astir 1,000 unpaid hours connected onshore and successful h2o to hunt for the missing individual, with drones, boats and dogs being deployed to the area. 

The squad says the missing operator and the conveyance were some recovered successful h2o connected Saturday, and the RCMP underwater betterment squad would implicit the recovery. 

"Our hearts spell retired to the household and loved ones of the deceased," COSAR said successful a statement.

RCMP did not respond to a petition for comment before publication.