The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died after falling into the Fraser River while fishing.

The man is Herbert Wells, aged 66, from Hope.

Mr. Wells was fishing from rocks on the banks of the Fraser River about three kilometres north of Yale on the afternoon of July 28, 2012, when he was seen to slip and fall into the river. An extensive search was mounted immediately, but Mr. Wells was not found.

On the evening of Aug. 13, 2012, a body was found in the Fraser River at Abbotsford. The body was located in a two-foot wide channel of the river between a large boom and a barge from the Mainland Sand and Gravel Quarry. Further investigation confirmed the man to be Mr. Wells.

The Coroners Service is continuing to investigate this death.

The family of Mr. Wells has been notified of his death. On behalf of family members, the Coroners Service asks that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time.

The BC Coroners Service expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Wells and its appreciation to the Fraser Valley and Hope search and rescue teams, First Nations Policing unit and the RCMP Seasonal Policing Unit for their assistance in the original search and later recovery efforts.

For further information, please contact:

Barb McLintock
Coroner, Strategic Programs
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9253