Senior dies in West Vancouver’s Lighthouse Park while trying to take photo

WEST VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – An attempt to take a picture at Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver has left a senior dead in what’s being described as an “unfortunate accident.”

It’s believed the man in his 70s fell about 30 feet while trying to save his camera and tripod.

Police say they received a report just after 6 p.m. Tuesday that two hikers had found a backpack.

“The police entered the area and started what appeared to be a missing person file,” explained Sgt. Greg Trenholm.

He says a phone was found and was “pinging to the area of Lighthouse Park.”

The Coast Guard and West Vancouver Fire & Rescue were called in to help police in their search.

Trenholm says the Coast Guard found a tripod at the foot of a cliff along the shore. The man’s body was found nearby.

“He likely lost control of his camera and may have grabbed for it and fell over the side and/or got too close to the cliff’s edge,” he explained, adding the cliff face was “quite mossy.”

Trenholm admits it’s not often something like this happens in this particular park.

“But farther down the highway, a little bit farther north up Highway 99. Just this past summer we had an unfortunate instance where a female fell to her death onto the railroad tracks. Same sort of thing, they were at a lookout view, lost their footing, and slipped off a cliff,” he told NEWS 1130.

People are being reminded to always be cautious and to put personal safety first.

Police say the coroner has taken over.

-With files from Dean Recksiedler

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to show West Vancouver fire crews were asked to assist in the search. 

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