News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes 

On Saturday evening a local resident, business man, family man and mentor to young people for many years, lost his life during a fishing outing at Farwell Canyon. Friends and family members at the scene said he slipped from the rocks and fell into the river. 

A family member stated that it was thanks to the selfless, courageous actions of the young people at the scene, and also of strangers who came to help, that there was not another life lost that night. 

The accident victim had been fishing earlier in the day, but was not fishing at the time of the accident. There were four young people and his own son, 34 years old, with him at the river. “He was a mentor to some of the kids who were there---lots of kids hung around his shop and were very close to him,” a family member said. “He was like a father to a lot of kids and a best friend.” 

Friends at the scene said that around 8:00pm he appeared to slip on the rocks, tried to center himself, and stepped backward, falling off the edge. It appeared that, even though he was properly roped in, there was too much slack in the rope. As he fell into the water, his son grabbed for the rope attached to his father and the two men ended up in the water. 

With his hand trapped under the rope attached to his father, the son said that he thought he saw his father lose consciousness. The moment the son’s hand was freed from the rope, the current carried him away. 

The current carried him around a corner and out of sight, where he hit some rocks in the middle of the river and managed to hang on. Very cold and numbed by the water, he pulled a lighter out of his pocket and lit it, and began whistling to attract attention and get help. 

In the meantime, seven people, including young people from the fishing excursion and a stranger who ran to help, climbed down and got the unconscious father out of the river, with one young friend leaning over the rocks with others holding his legs. 

A couple, thought to be fishing in the area, contacted two Fisheries officers in order to phone 911. While they were phoning, the woman thought she heard whistling in the distance, and after driving further down the river with flashlights, they spotted the son on the rocks in the river. 

Someone brought some steel cable to the river’s edge and got it out to the rocks, where the stranded son managed to wrap the cable around himself and be pulled to safety by the group of young people and by the unknown couple.  

“We are so thankful that we didn’t lose two people that night,” a family member stated. “We’re so grateful to those people who helped---they didn’t have to---they didn’t even know him. 

“There were some real heroes who went to extraordinary measures to save both our loved one who died and our loved one who nearly died trying to save him. The response from people who loved him has been truly overwhelming,” she said. 

“When my brother, who nearly drowned that night, had a serious accident a few years ago that changed his life forever, my dad said that he wished with all his heart that he could trade places with him,” she continued. “I truly believe that my dad’s spirit rescued him that night in the river.” 

 The victim’s name has been withheld at the request of the family, but friends and loved ones had this to say on his Facebook page:

Sheldon----You were a great leader and you were always there for me when I had a problem and you helped me to see that I needed to finish school! You will be missed. 

Kathy---I always took it for granted that you would always be there...every Friday...welcoming everyone as usual and I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your hospitality, friendship, and entertainment you allowed. Never discriminating against anyone...rich, poor, drunk, sober, winners, losers...lol...I always ...felt welcome and at ease every single time! You always amazed me with your kindness and patience and always had an ear for the bad beat stories :) I wish there were more people in this world just like you...cause it would definitely be a better place if there were more (people like you) out there! I admire the way you continuously helped people and gave everyone chances to improve themselves....not many people willing to do that in this day and age. Anyways...bye for now and watch over Terry and family cause they really need to know that you're okay and in a better place :)

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