BURST
A passenger who survived a boating incident that killed three people on the flooded Upper Squamish River Thursday is sharing his account of the moments leading up to the capsizing.
B.C. RCMP is investigating the incident, which police responded to at 1:52 p.m. in the river near the 15900-block of Squamish Valley Road, about 26 km northwest of town.
Cpl. Brett Urano told Postmedia Saturday in an email: “We will not be releasing further details at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation.”
Survivor Spencer Seabrooke told Postmedia the group launched a fan boat at a campground before travelling south over a flooded section of road to a nearby farm to check on animals. They continued by boat towards a bridge before heading north, passing another campground before continuing to a ranch where the boat’s operator owns property.
Seabrooke is a friend of the boat’s operator, whom RCMP have not identified. He said the other passengers were connected to the ranch, either as workers, family members or friends.
“We weren’t out there to recreate. We were out to try to help other people, and simply to get home safe after that,” he said.
A neighbour who lives nearby told Postmedia she heard a motorized boat travelling the flooded river Thursday and became concerned as the river had swelled 5½ metres higher than usual for this time of year.
“We haven’t seen flooding like this in years,” the neighbour said.
Seabrooke told Postmedia the incident unfolded quickly. They planned to access the ranch through a nearby creek rather than travel back downstream. After using a chainsaw to clear a log blocking the creek entrance, they pushed off from shore, intending to travel upstream before turning around to enter the creek.
He said it was then that a branch from the shore struck passengers, including the boat’s operator, before the boat turned sideways into a log.
“The boat got turned, and then it flipped the boat over immediately, and we all got sucked down underneath the log,” he said. “I was under the log and came up the other side, and others didn’t.”
After emerging from the water and reaching shore, Seabrooke said he pulled two other passengers from the river.
In total, five people managed to survive the crash, authorities confirm.
One of the survivors was a man the group picked up along the way after he flagged down the boat.
Squamish Valley Road remained closed Saturday, continuing to cut off emergency vehicle access to parts of the Upper Squamish Valley.
“I got a helicopter ride out with my dog because I was ready to come into town and be with family,” Seabrooke said.
Squamish Search and Rescue, RCMP aircraft, a police emergency response team, RCMP divers and the force’s marine section were deployed Thursday afternoon to assist with search and recovery efforts by air and on the water.
RCMP said elevated water levels and challenging weather conditions made it extremely difficult and unsafe for emergency responders to continue their work Thursday, forcing the search for the last missing person to resume Friday.
“The complexities, technical elements of the area and flooding have required the deployment of specialized resources to support operations,” Mounties said.
By Friday afternoon, a third passenger was found deceased.
As investigators continue to collect evidence to determine the details surrounding the incident, they are asking anyone with information or video footage of the incident to contact Squamish RCMP.
With more rain expected into the weekend, the District of Squamish activated its emergency operations centre Wednesday night and the area remains under a flood warning.
“Stay clear of the banks of swift-running rivers and never drive across flooded roads, bridges or river crossings,” the district urged in an emergency update Friday.
West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA-elect Jeremy Valeriote expressed devastation after hearing about the deaths.
Valeriote said the tragic deaths “brings another layer of heartbreak to a community that has already been through so much.”
— with file from Lora Grindlay