CFJC Today File Photo

By Victor Kaisar

Missing Person

UPDATE: Search resumes for 23-year-old man who jumped off Overlanders Bridge in Kamloops

Jul 31, 2025 | 6:10 AM

KAMLOOPS — (UPDATE 1:15 p.m.): Kamloops RCMP say a 23-year-old man is presumed to have drowned in the Thompson River after he jumped off the west side of the Overlanders Bridge Wednesday (July 30) evening.

The incident around 7:30 p.m. yesterday led to a large emergency response as Kamloops RCMP, Kamloops Fire Rescue, and Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) also responded to the area near Overlander Beach as well as areas west of the bridge.

“Witnesses reported seeing the male surface briefly before disappearing, and attempts to rescue the male were unsuccessful,” a statement from Kamloops RCMP Staff Sgt. Kelly Butler said.

KSAR and the RCMP are back on scene today to search for the missing person, who police say has been identified, though Butler said authorities will not be releasing that information “at this time.”

In its own statement, KSAR said it will be “actively searching” in the water and along the shores of the Thompson River, and it asked people to give them space “to conduct these efforts safely and effectively.”

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 11, 2025

27m ago

TWO & OUT

PETERS: With Conservatives' constant infighting, Eby may as well have super-majority

2h ago

ONE MAN'S OPINION

COLLINS: William has taken care of it already

2h ago

In a Wednesday (July 30) evening post on Facebook, Chris Thomas Wells identified the victim as Braden Wallace-Peters. He also noted that while there was a “prompt water-based search,” there have been no signs of the missing man.

“The search will continue tomorrow for him,” the post said. “Asking my family and friends around Kamloops area if you see him please contact the Kamloops RCMP.”

While there are no further details available from officials at this time, several witnesses took to social media Wednesday evening to describe what they saw.

“We were at Henry Grube beach when all this commotion started [and] my kids counted 21 cop cars and two fire trucks,” witness Amanda Onstine said on Facebook.

“There were officers on the beach by the bridge telling people to stay out of the water. The wind was so strong that we could barely stand still. We just assumed people in the water were pushed down the river.”

This is the second swiftwater rescue call for Kamloops Search and Rescue teams this month.

The body of 27-year-old Thompson Rivers University student Jatin Garg was pulled from the river on July 15, a little over a week after he was swept away on July 6 while trying to retrieve a volleyball from the river.