In the shadow of a picturesque waterfall that draws thousands of visitors each year, search and rescue teams have finally brought closure to a tragedy that has gripped British Columbia for nearly two weeks. The body of Sarah Chen, 29, was recovered yesterday morning from the basin of Shannon Falls, marking the end of a desperate search that began when three hikers were swept over the falls on September 5th.
I spent yesterday afternoon at the site, where yellow police tape still cordoned off trails leading to the upper viewpoints. Park rangers worked quietly, speaking in hushed tones as they directed visitors away from the closed areas. The mood was somber, a stark contrast to the usual festive atmosphere at this popular destination just off the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
“This isn’t just another accident,” Robert Haskins, chief coordinator for Squamish Search and Rescue told me as we looked up at the 335-metre cascade. “This is a moment to reflect on how quickly wilderness recreation can turn tragic, even in places that seem accessible and safe.”
Chen’s body was discovered approximately 800 metres downstream from where she and friends Michael Torres, 31, and Leila Patel, 28, were seen slipping from a rock face near the upper pools. The bodies of Torres and Patel were recovered earlier this week.
According to witnesses, the three friends had ventured beyond safety barriers to take photographs at the upper pools when Torres lost his footing on the slick rock surface. In what appears to have been a rescue attempt, both Chen and Patel also fell into the rushing water and were carried over the falls.
“The power of moving water is consistently underestimated,” explained Constable Meredith Chen (no relation) of the RCMP. “Even experienced hikers can be caught off guard, especially when water levels are higher than usual after recent rainfall.”
The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for improved safety measures at provincial parks. BC Parks officials confirmed they will conduct a comprehensive safety review at Shannon Falls Provincial Park, though they emphasized that barriers and warning signs were already in place.
“We’ve seen a 37% increase in search and rescue callouts across BC parks in the past five years,” noted Ellen Woodward, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “As more people seek outdoor experiences, we’re facing complex questions about access versus safety.”
For local residents, the incident reopens wounds from a similar 2018 tragedy when three social media personalities died at the same location. John Willcox, who has lived in Squamish for over three decades, expressed frustration as he watched tourists continue to stream toward the falls yesterday.
“Every few years, someone dies here, we grieve, we talk about changes, and then nothing really happens,” Willcox said. “These weren’t reckless thrill-seekers – they were just ordinary people who made one poor decision with terrible consequences.”
The victims, all Vancouver residents, were described by friends as experienced hikers who had completed several challenging trails throughout the province. Torres worked as a software engineer, while Chen and Patel were healthcare professionals at Vancouver General Hospital.
Dr. Anita Sharma, who worked alongside Chen in the hospital’s emergency department, described her as “someone who saved lives every day, which makes this loss even more difficult to accept.”
As recovery efforts conclude, attention turns to prevention. The BC Coroners Service confirmed they will conduct a thorough investigation, which could lead to recommendations for additional safety measures.
Meanwhile, a makeshift memorial has appeared at the park entrance – hiking boots, photographs, and handwritten notes creating a poignant reminder of lives cut short. Among the tributes was a small plaque that read: “The mountains will always be here. Make sure you are too.“
For those of us who cover these stories too frequently, it’s a sentiment worth remembering as British Columbians continue their love affair with the breathtaking – and sometimes unforgiving – wilderness that defines our province.
