UPDATE: All three bodies were recovered by the RCMP Wednesday evening.
“RCMP URT, ERT Specialized Aerial and Swiftwater Teams and Squamish SAR worked throughout the day to complete the complex recovery of all three people from Shannon Falls,” said Cpl. Sascha Banks. “Currently all teams are being cleared from the area until then the park remains closed. I can’t say enough about the incredibly skilled work done today by the RCMP teams along with Squamish SAR.”
The Squamish RCMP and Squamish SAR have now turned the file over the BC Coroner’s service and the names will not be released.
UPDATE: RCMP say the three missing persons are dead and efforts are ongoing to recover their bodies.
“SAR teams, multiple helicopter units, and RCMP have been working in all capacities to locate the three people,” said Cpl. Sascha Banks on Wednesday morning. “At around 8:30 p.m. last night teams were able to confirm the location of the three people in one of the lower pools. The RCMP and Squamish SAR have transitioned to a recovery of the bodies from the pool but the terrain is extremely difficult, very dangerous, and the water flow will be heavy with the warm temperatures today, increasing the risk to those in the recovery effort.”
Specialized RCMP and SAR teams are already on site. Until the joint operation is completed Shannon Falls and any trails leading to the pool system at the top of Shannon Falls are closed to the public.
RCMP will not be releasing the names at this time.
ON Tuesday at 11:55 a.m., Squamish RCMP received a call from BC Ambulance regarding three people who were swimming in one of the pools at the top of Shannon Falls when they slipped and fell into a pool 30 metres below. They were with a group of friends.
Squamish Search and Rescue (SAR), Lions Bay SAR, BC Ambulance, Squamish Fire, TEAAM, BC Parks, and Squamish RCMP attended to the scene in order to coordinate the search efforts. “SAR teams, multiple Helicopter Units, and RCMP have been working in all capacities to locate the three people,” said Cpl. Sascha Banks on Tuesday. “As of 6 p.m. we have been unable to visually seen anyone in the pool system, but the terrain is difficult, very dangerous, and the water flow is heavy which is complicating the search.”
Efforts to locate the three will continue overnight into Wednesday when additional specialized RCMP and SAR teams will be on site. Until the joint operation is completed Shannon Falls and any trails leading to the pool system at the top of Shannon Falls are closed to the public.
Families of those missing are currently being contacted and the RCMP will not be releasing the names at this time.
