Hiker Dies After Rescue Attempt Goes Horribly Wrong

What was supposed to be a fun hiking trip during a vacation turned into a heartbreaking tragedy on Brunswick Mountain, a peak near Metro Vancouver in British Columbia.

Yan Cen, known to friends as “Rock,” was visiting from China when he joined a group of 14 hikers on March 21. During the outing, a woman in the group slipped and fell down the steep mountainside near the summit. Rock then tried to climb down to help her, but he also lost his footing and fell even farther down the slope, reportedly coming to rest above a waterfall.

Rescue crews were called at about 1:40 p.m., and what followed was a dangerous, high-risk mission. Lions Bay Search and Rescue said the terrain was so difficult that crews needed two helicopters, rope systems, and a large technical team to reach the hikers and pull them to safety. The woman was rescued and listed in stable condition. Rock, however, was critically injured and later died in the hospital the following day.

Lions Bay Search and Rescue called the outcome “deeply tragic” and said its thoughts were with everyone affected. Friends and members of the Pacific NorthWest Outdoor Association have since remembered Rock as a kind, passionate man who was always eager to help others. In a tribute, the group said he lost his life while bravely helping another hiker, reflecting the spirit of support that defined their outdoor community.

Now, his grieving family is facing a second nightmare: enormous medical and related costs. The Pacific NorthWest Outdoor Association has launched a GoFundMe to help cover the overwhelming expenses tied to his hospitalization, legal and administrative procedures, and local funeral services.