A 22-year-old hiker has been found dead after he went missing in a provincial park near Shawnigan Lake Wednesday night.
According to searchers, the man’s caregivers dropped him off to explore a cave in Koksilah River Provincial Park, west of Shawnigan Lake.
The man was to meet back up with them at 7 p.m. but when he missed the pick-up time, a search and rescue operation was launched.
Searchers say while they were looking for the man, they encountered a cougar that did not appear to be afraid of humans, and the search was eventually called off at 1 a.m. because of the cougar, the lack of light and fatigue.
Efforts resumed Thursday morning with Cowichan Valley SAR leading a search centered around Burnt Bridge.
Crews found clothing belonging to the man and narrowed the search area, then eventually located his body.
Authorities have not confirmed how the man died, but tell CTV News that searchers were extremely shaken by the discovery.
Mounties declined to comment but say an investigation has begun. The BC Coroners Service has also been called in to investigate the man’s death and said Friday that there's no evidence a cougar was involved in the man's death.
