The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died following a plane crash near the British Columbia-Alberta border on July 26, 2013.

The man was Yves Rene, aged 62, from Vernon.

Mr. Rene was the pilot and sole occupant aboard a Cessna 182 float plane which had made a landing at Fortress Lake, an isolated high-altitude lake in Hamber Provincial Park west of Jasper, Alberta. The plane apparently crashed when he was taking off from the lake, and an emergency location transmitter signal came from the plane at 1:45 p.m. on July 26.

When search-and-rescue personnel attended the crash site shortly afterward, they found Mr. Rene to be deceased at the scene.

The BC Coroners Service, the Transportation Safety Board and RCMP all are continuing to investigate this death.

The family of Mr. Rene has been notified of his death. On behalf of family members, the BC 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. Rene, and its appreciation to the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, Parks Canada and Squadron 442 for their help in this case.

For further information, please contact:

Donita Kuzma
Regional Coroner, Northern Region
BC Coroners Service
250 565-6040