CLEARWATER, B.C. — RCMP say if visitors follow the proper safety precautions while visting Spahats Creek Falls, they’ll be just fine.
Mounties issued that safety message today following Wednesday’s tragic incident that claimed the life of a 21 year old Kamloops woman.
Police say the woman plunged between 400 and 500 feet to her death while visiting the falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park with three of her friends.
“Although I can’t comment specifically about this case as it is still under investigation, we believe that if people use the park and adopt regular safety precautions when being outdoors — and that includes respecting any fencing that has been erected or any railings that have been put in place for their safety — that there really shouldn’t be any safety issues when using the park,” says Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau.
Search and rescue crews from Kamloops, Clearwater and 100 Mile House teamed up to recover the victim’s body.
The Spahats Creek Falls area of the park was closed during the recovery and on-site investigation, but it has since re-opened.
Linteau wouldn’t say whether drugs or alcohol may have been involved.
“The matter is still under investigation by the BC Coroners Service and the RCMP and really we’re looking at all the circumstances that may have contributed to this incident. Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to really expand on that at this point.”
As for how the victim’s friends are coping, she again was unable to elaborate other than to say the trio would have been offered support services.
“I can’t speak specifically as I’m really not aware but in these types of situations certainly we always offer victim services that can provide them assistance. Whether or not they took that offer, I really have no information in that regard,” said Linteau.
