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Web posted Friday, October 7, 2005

Officials say man who died on hike near Vancouver was likely alive during search

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A man who died on a hike in this Vancouver suburb was alive for several days while rescuers looked for him, according to a coroner’s report.

David Koch, 36, of Hartland, Wis., was found dead by an independent searcher June 7 in a creek bed on Grouse Mountain 10 days after he vanished.

Earlier, Koch had been the subject of an intense search using helicopters, police dogs, infrared devices and trained personnel. According to the coroner’s report, he died of hypothermia on about May 31, six days after he was last seen.

‘‘These findings are saddening, as the report suggests that Koch may have been alive for some time while the search was ongoing,’’ Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a news release issued Tuesday.

Authorities said earlier that Koch went for a walk on the mountain after flying to Seattle, renting a car and driving to Vancouver.

Video surveillance tapes showed he got off the Grouse Mountain cable car, went for a 10-minute walk, re-entered the mountaintop atrium and then exited a second time

He was wearing sandals, which led rescue crews to conclude he intended to go on a light walk.

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