An American has died in Banff, the picturesque mountain town in Alberta, Canada. However, attempts by authorities to retrieve the man’s body have so far been stymied due to unfavorable conditions.
The 25-year-old tourist was visiting Banff with friends from Pennsylvania when he went swimming in Johnston Canyon, as the CBC reports. Banff Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment commander Staff Sgt. Mike Buxton-Carr told the CBC that the incident is being considered an accidental death. “A gentleman crossed some barriers and entered the pools, and he’s believed to have entered on a couple of occasions,” he explained. “On the third occasion, he jumped from a height and briefly surfaced, but appeared to be in some difficulty and returned under the surface.”
A recovery effort was mounted, with Parks Canada visitor safety specialists searching both the upper and lower pools at the Lower Falls. Eventually, the search was ended when dangerous water conditions made it impossible for authorities to go any further.
Even after the tourist was declared deceased, Parks Canada has been unable to send in divers to retrieve the body. Instead, they have deployed underwater cameras, but they have struggled due to poor underwater visibility from strong currents caused by spring melt.
“It’s a tragedy, especially for the family,” said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Mathew Howell. “It’s just a reminder to everyone that, yes, we have these beautiful parks, but there’s a reason why there’s paths you’re not supposed to go on; there’s a reason you’re not supposed to jump in the water at certain areas.”
In response, Parks Canada temporarily closed the Johnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area. However, according to a social media post, they have been reopened.
