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Second body found in Cascade Gorge

by Mona Mattei on 29 Jul 2012
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A 71-year-old Christina Lake woman’s body was recovered by helicopter this morning from the Cascade Falls gorge after dying from injuries sustained when her raft was dragged over the falls by the current on Saturday afternoon.

The woman’s body was trapped in an eddy just below the first steps of the falls along the Kettle River just west of Christina Lake where the swift water recovery team was able to extract her. There were three people of a group floating the river who were carried over the falls.

Her 74-year-old husband’s body was recovered below the falls shortly after the accident on Saturday evening, while a 50-year-old man from Scotland is still missing.

"The woman and her husband were sharing a small inflatable dinghy, when they were swept over Cascade waterfall and capsized.  Both she and her husband drowned," said Cpl Dan Moskaluk spokesman for the RCMP.

Grand Forks Search and Rescue (SAR) and the RCMP took over the operation from the Christina Lake Fire Department to find the remaining person with assistance from the Kootenay Swift Water team out of Nelson.

The RCMP Southeast District helicopter and ground searchers were unable to locate the third individual today.  An extensive air and ground search was completed late Sunday afternoon but yielded no sign of the man.  SAR techincians will monitor the area in the coming days in attempts to locate the man's body.

The family of the Scottish man have been advised by the RCMP and Grand Forks Victim Services personnel that the man is presumed to have drowned.

United States officials remain on alert for the last victim.

Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison said the other 10 - 13 rafters and tubers in the party with the victims were vacationing in Christina Lake, many of whom were related. They are currently waiting for more information and receiving support from victim services.

No further information is anticipated today, further updates will be provided on Monday by the BC Coroners Services

No names have been released to the media at this time.

Click on photos to enlarge and view

Read earlier story:

http://boundarysentinel.com/news/two-missing-after-raft-swept-over-falls-20197#.UBXKoLRDySo

SAR teams send a Christina Lake woman's body to safety with the helicopter airlift; Photo, Mona Mattei
Helicopter prepping for take off to pick up recovered victim's body; Photo, Mona Mattei
The coroner oversees the final transportation of a drowning victim's body; Photo, Mona Mattei

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Update: Couple lost in Cascade falls identified

by Mona Mattei on 30 Jul 2012 at about 19:46.

The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of the married couple who died in a float-tubing accident, which occurred near Christina Lake on July 28.

The man is Ronald Legare, aged 74, and the woman is his spouse, Jacqueline Jean Legare, aged 71. They resided in Christina Lake where they were longtime community members.

The Legares were part of a large group float-tubing on the Kettle River when they were witnessed being swept into the Cascade Canyon by swift currents.

Their families have been notified of their deaths. Search and rescue teams continue to monitor the area for the 50-year-old Scottish man who is still missing.