The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died following a tubing accident on the Similkameen River on July 20, 2013.

He is Derek James Woodrow, aged 19, from Keremeos.

Mr. Woodrow was one of a group of six persons who were tubing on the Similkameen River near Keremeos on the afternoon of July 20. In a patch of rough water, Mr. Woodrow fell from his tube and was not able to rescue himself. Help was immediately summoned. Search and rescue personnel were able to recover Mr. Woodrow's body from the river a short distance downstream of where he had last been seen, but he was deceased at the scene.

The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death.

Mr. Woodrow's family has been notified of his death. On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service requests that media respect their privacy during this difficult time.

For further information, please contact:

Larry Marzinzik
Regional Coroner, Interior Region
BC Coroners Service
250 861-7429