A tragic incident occurred at Lynn Canyon on Vancouver’s North Shore, where a 17-year-old boy fell about 150 feet into the canyon after ignoring signs and climbing past a broken fence. The teenager, originally from Ontario, was set to start classes at the University of British Columbia the following week. The coroner has initiated an investigation into the young man’s death. Dwayne Derban, assistant chief of operations at the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue, mentioned that calls to Lynn Canyon are not uncommon, and the emergency call came in at 3 p.m. on a Sunday. The first responders had difficulty locating the victim’s friends and the fallen teenager due to their off-trail location and the need for search efforts.
According to Derban, the teen’s friends initially believed that he was fine after he disappeared over the edge and it took them some time before calling 911. The rescue team had challenges in locating the fallen boy until they were able to find a crew member who could access the opposite side of the river. The young man’s decision to go beyond the designated area to get a closer look and take pictures ended tragically. Unfortunately, once it was determined that the victim could not be saved, the focus shifted to recovery efforts involving the RCMP and the coroner. Derban, who had faced a similar tragedy in his family with his uncle losing his life in the same area 80 years ago, emphasized the importance of adhering to safety precautions and fence boundaries in risky areas to prevent such incidents from happening.
Derban stressed the importance of respecting safety guidelines and boundaries in risky areas like Lynn Canyon to avoid accidents and tragedies like the recent incident involving the 17-year-old boy. The teenager’s friends shared that he had crossed over the fence and approached the edge before the ground gave way, causing him to fall 150 feet into the canyon. The incident highlighted the dangers of disregarding safety measures and venturing off-trail in natural areas. The rescue team had to switch their focus from a rescue mission to a recovery operation once it became clear that the victim could not be saved. The emotional impact of informing the young man’s friends about his tragic accident was also highlighted by Derban, who had personal experience with such losses in his family.
Derban shared a personal connection to the tragedy, revealing that his uncle had lost his life in a similar manner in the same area 80 years ago. Reflecting on his family’s grief and the recent marking of his uncle’s grave, Derban emphasized the lasting impact of such incidents on families and communities. He commended the efforts of park rangers at Lynn Valley Parks in patrolling and securing dangerous areas with fences to prevent accidents. Derban’s message to the public was clear – to exercise caution and avoid risky behavior in natural areas like Lynn Canyon to prevent unnecessary accidents and tragedies. The young man’s death serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of respecting safety measures and boundaries to ensure the well-being of visitors and prevent future incidents from occurring.
