Body of man swept away during atmospheric river in Coquitlam has been found

Search and rescue teams have discovered a body in the Coquitlam River Friday, and the Coquitlam RCMP has confirmed it was that of 59-year-old Robert Belding, who was reported missing on Sunday.

“The missing 59-year-old man reported missing on Sunday, October 20, 2024, has been located deceased,” said Corp. Alexa Hodgins Friday.

Belding was last seen walking a dog by the river when the dog fell in and he went in after it.

The dog was found alive, but Belding remained missing.

BC Hydro reduces Coquitlam River flow to help find man swept away during atmospheric river

On Friday, crews ramped up the search for the missing man ahead of a weekend storm that crews feared would make conditions worse.

Ian MacDonald, search manager with Coquitlam Search and Rescue (SAR), said Friday was the “best opportunity” to find the man.

MacDonald said the focus was on the Coquitlam River after BC Hydro reduced outflow from a nearby dam to help crews.

“Up until this point, the water has been too dangerous to insert searchers,” explained MacDonald. “Also, we haven’t had any rain in four or five days and rain is in the forecast, so today’s our big push.”

“We’re going to put our swift water technicians into the water and they’ll be searching the high probability areas to see if we can find Mr. Belding,” MacDonald said Friday morning.

He said the challenge was posed by days of debris build-up.

“Trees and wood and all kinds of things, and this is relevant because they form debris traps and Mr. Belding could very easily be caught under one of these debris traps,” he explained.

“Those can’t be searched either properly or safely from the shore and that’s why today is so important.”

MacDonald said the search was a race against the clock with more stormy weather ahead this weekend.

“That’s why we have such a big push today and we’re bringing in mutual aid from a number of other search and rescue teams to help us so we can get a large presence in the river. The objective is to search the entire Coquitlam River.”

He says other agencies helped in the search, including a chopper from Talon Helicopters, North Shore Rescue, and Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue.

CSR says Belding was last seen near Pipeline Road and Galette Avenue around 5 p.m. Sunday. Early reports suggested that he had fallen into or been swept away by the overflowing current while walking with his brother’s dog amid the heavy downpour.

CSR confirmed Wednesday that Belding was attempting to save the dog after it fell into the river.

“The dog went into the water, and Robert, being a good soul, went after to try and rescue it. The witness reported that he was swept away almost immediately because the current was so strong and the river so high,” MacDonald had said on Wednesday.

The dog was later found near Shaughnessy Street and David Place.

Meanwhile, North Shore Rescue has been also been tasked to find a missing man, Scott Phillips, believed to be somewhere in the British Properties.

The man’s car was found near the Brothers Creek trailhead on the North Shore.

North Shore Rescue says Phillips is familiar with the backcountry but he hasn’t been seen since Sept. 27.