Coroner identifies Vernon man in fatal climbing accident

NEAR VERNON — The identity of a Vernon climber who is believed to have fallen to his death over the weekend has been released.

Martin Wolbers, 32, is believed to have taken a deadly fall from Turtle Mountain near Vernon while free-climbing.

The B.C. Coroners Service says the man’s body was found by people who were walking their dog along the hiking trail.

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He was lying unresponsive at the base of the steep cliff but couldn’t be resuscitated, according to regional coroner, Larry Marzinzik.

“Mr.Wolbers was known to frequently free-climb on the rock faces near where he was found and preliminary investigation indicates he fell while doing so,” said Marzinzik in a news release.

RCMP were called to the scene near Turtle Mountain Boulevard around 4:20 p.m. on Saturday.

Cpl. Spencer Hornoi says his body was found in a ditch at the base of a short bridge on Grey Canal Trail.

The B.C. Coroners Service is continuing its investigation into his death.