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The Voice of North and West Vancouver since 1969

Thrill seekers attracted
to cool, wet danger

Jan-Christian Sorensen
Contributing Writer

THE deadly, turbulent waters of Lynn
Creek have claimed yet another victim.

Nineteen-year-old Paul Maheeya Moran of Vancouver was
swept away by a strong undercurrent while jumping into the
frigid waters of the 90-foor falls section of the creck Sunday
afternoon.

Moran and a friend, 18-year-old Adam Davidson of
Vancouver, were sliding down the waterfall to the immediate
west of the suspension bridge when the incident occurred at
about 3:50 p.m.

According to North Vancouver District fire prevention
chief Brian Stegavig, Davidson was first into the raging water
and tried to signal to Moran not to follow him.

“As soon as he was in the water (Davidson) realized what
the problem was. When he surfaced he yelled at (Moran) noc
to jump, but it was too late because he already had gone

Davidson told rescue personnel on scene thar Moran 1
surfaced after he hit the wat

The current was so strony, said Steyavig, that it ripped one
of the sneakers from Davidson's feet as he struggled to cling
toa ro

He fought his way to shore and made it back up to the top
of the canyon without assistance.

Approximately 30 rescuers fron the districr fire depart-
ment, North Shore Rescue, B.C. Ambulance and the North
Vancouver RCMP then began the effort to recaver Moran’s
body.

Four members of the RCMP dive team worked with North
Shore Rescue members and rappelled into the canyon to
retrieve Moran’s body ar about 7:30 o.m, that night.

Since 1976, Lynn ‘Canyon has been host to at least 17 acci-
dental deaths and three possible suicides.

Before the death of Moran, the last victim to die in the
creek was a 13-year-old North Vancouver boy who was killed
in July, 1998.

“It's the same area where i he died three years age. It was
the exact same situation,” said Tim Jones, search Manager
with North Shore Rescue.

There are fences and warning signs posted along the trail,
as well as plaque honouring those who have died in the creck.

However, Kevin Bell, section manager of natural parkland
for North Vancouver District, said that the area where the wo
men entered has no signage or fencing posted ‘to: discourage
kids from jumping.

“At that particular point we cannot get a fence or sign
because of the high water that comes in November and
March,” said Bell. “The water would sweep it away

Two district park rangers patrol a wwo-mile: stretch of Lynn
Canyon in alternating shifts from 11 a.m, to 10 p-m: daily.

North Vancouver RCMP Const. Heidi Hoffman. said that
the creck is extremely dangerous at this tithe of-year because
of spring runoff, which adds increased vohime and force to
already-torrential waters.

Hoffman said thar most kids heed the warnings posted

RCMP officers lead away a distraught Adam Davidso!
Maheeya Moran, also of Vancouver, drowned while jumping into North Vancouver’s Lynn Creek on Sunday.

along the trail, but there will always be “thrill-seekers” who
will choose to ignore them.
“There are those one or two percenters that are the thrill-
ekers and the ones that, no matter how many signs are put
“re going to disobey and take their chances,” she said.
addest thing is that though they may not care about
themselves and they may realize what the consequences could
be, they're not thinking about the fant
Moran and Davidson weren't the only one who put their
lives at risk, she added.
“It was pretty dangerous for the divers and the r
sonnel chat were down there.”
Bell strongly urged people to stay away from the creek,
“People s Shouldn’ *: swim in Lynn Creek at all,” he said.
“Besides the icy water, there’s rocks and all sorts of debris
there. And you could extend that warning to about every
creek on the North Shore, though.”
“Even at quiet times the power of the water is not to be

plaved with.”

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NEWS photo duile werean
18, of Vancouver after his friend, 19-year-old Paul

Lions Bay water
warning issued

Anna Marie D’Angelo

News Reporter adangelo@nsnews

ABOUT 1,500 Lions Bay residents

received notices on Monday to boil their

water for five minutes before drinking it.
Dr. John Blatherwick, acting chief medical health officer for

the North Shore Health Region, said one of five drinking water

See First page 3