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Man's Remains Found Over 2 Years After River Rescue Gone Wrong
25 Jul
Summary
- Stan Cappis's remains identified after being swept away in 2024.
- He was attempting to rescue two youths from the North Thompson River.
- Officials warn against dangerous river rescues, advising to call 911.
The remains of Stan Cappis, a man from Red Deer, Alberta, have been positively identified more than two years after he was swept away in British Columbia's North Thompson River. The discovery was made on July 16, 2026, confirming the identity of human remains belonging to Cappis, who was last seen on July 12, 2024.
Cappis was attempting a heroic rescue of two youths in the river when he was overcome by the currents. While the youths and Cappis's friend managed to reach the shore, extensive search operations involving multiple agencies, including RCMP, police dog services, air services, and Kamloops Fire Rescue, failed to locate him at the time.
Kamloops Fire Chief Ken Uzeloc acknowledged the bravery of citizen rescue attempts but strongly advised the public to prioritize safety by calling 911 instead of entering dangerous waterways. He emphasized that rivers are unpredictable, deep, cold, and fast, and that improvised rescue methods like throwing ropes are safer than direct intervention.
The City of Kamloops has since enhanced signage at six river access parks, including Tournament Capital Ranch, the site of the incident. Despite these efforts and public education discouraging river use, authorities recognize that people may still engage in risky behavior near waterways, acknowledging past near misses and fatalities.
