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Missing person located at golf course

Kimberley woman found drowned in retention pond at Bootleg Gap.
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Kimberley Search and Rescue members prepare a raft during a search at Bootleg Gap Golf Course

The BC Coroner's Service has confirmed the identity of a Kimberley woman who was reported missing Sunday, April 14, and found deceased in a golf course retaining pond in Marysville the next day.

Kimberley RCMP were notified of a missing person Sunday, April 14, just before 6 p.m.

Deborah Marie Blais, 55, had gone for a walk with the family dog earlier in the afternoon at Bootleg Gap Golf Course. Later, people on the course discovered the dog struggling in the retaining pond, rescued it and returned it to its home. When Blais did not return, family and friends began searching for her.

The RCMP and Search and Rescue were called in, and they, along with a police dog, initiated a search of the area.

According to RCMP, it became evident that Blais may have fallen into the retention pond. The RCMP Dive Team was requested.

The next day, Monday, April 15, the dive team located the women, deceased, in the pond. The Coroner's Service said the pond is about three metres deep, and held a week's worth of water for 27 holes.

Search and Rescue teams from Cranbrook, Fernie, Creston and Sparwood assisted in the search.  Victim Services is assisting the family, friends and coworkers with this tragic loss.



Barry Coulter

About the Author: Barry Coulter

Barry Coulter had been Editor of the Cranbrook Townsman since 1998, and has been part of all those dynamic changes the newspaper industry has gone through over the past 20 years.
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