Three dead after boating accident on Upper Squamish River amid severe flooding
Three people were killed in a boating incident on the Upper Squamish River as floodwaters rose to unprecedented levels, prompting a challenging rescue operation.
Three fatalities were confirmed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after a boating accident on the Upper Squamish River on Thursday. The river was swollen to about 5½ metres above its normal level, prompting concerns from local residents about safety on the water.
Local resident and community volunteer Karen Wahlberg said she had warned about the high floodwaters and observed emergency vehicles heading toward the 15900-block of Squamish Valley Road shortly before the incident. She described the jet boat involved as "ripping up and down" on the turbulent river.
B.C. Emergency Health Services reported receiving a call at 2:48 p.m. and dispatched two primary-care ambulances, an advanced-care ambulance and an air ambulance with critical-care paramedics. No patients required transport to a hospital, and the search and recovery effort continued into Friday despite elevated water levels and adverse weather that made conditions "extremely" difficult for responders.
Road closures on Squamish Valley Road, imposed because of the flooding, limited emergency vehicle access to parts of the Upper Squamish Valley. Residents remained under a shelter-in-place advisory as helicopters continued to fly over the river in search of missing persons.