Port Alberni RCMP, joined by search and rescue crews, continued searching Monday for a woman who was swept away by strong currents while swimming in Stamp River Provincial Park late Sunday afternoon.
Incident Details
At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Port Alberni RCMP received a call about a swimmer in distress in the fast-flowing Stamp River. Officers and other first responders initiated a search but were unable to locate the woman that evening.
On Monday, the search expanded with assistance from the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad and Arrowsmith Search and Rescue, according to RCMP Const. Beth O'Connor. A section of the trail near the waterfalls was closed to facilitate search operations, though the provincial park remained open to the public.
Hazardous Conditions
The area around the falls is known for its lush forests, rapids, and lookouts where visitors can watch salmon migrating upstream in late summer. However, swimming is prohibited within the provincial park due to treacherous currents and slippery rocks. Despite the ban, tubing and swimming are popular downstream, where conditions are generally safer.
Authorities remind the public that the river's currents can be unpredictable and dangerous, especially after recent weather events that may have increased water levels and flow rates.
