B.C. man dies in zipline accident in Thailand
A B.C. man has died in a zipline accident in Thailand, according to local authorities.
Friends have identified the man as Spencer Donaldson of Fruitvale, B.C.
The 25-year-old man was on holiday with his girlfriend when he fell 12 metres to his death on Saturday, media in Chiang Mai said.
He was on a five-kilometre zipline course called the Flight of the Gibbon in the village of Mae Kampong, Chiang Mai province.
Police are investigating the death and said the man's father is on his way to Thailand to repatriate his son's body.
Global Affairs confirmed the man's death but would not give any official details due to privacy concerns.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of the Canadian citizen who died in Thailand. Consular services are provided to the family and loved ones of the Canadian," a statement read.
'Metallurgic failure'
The zipline course has 33 different platforms and is advertised as one of the longest in Asia.
In a statement sent to CBC, Flight of the Gibbon confirmed the death on April 13 and summarized the preliminary investigation.
The company said that there had been a "metallurgic failure on a swing."
It added that all participants had completed the park's orientation and were within the standard 125-kilogram weight limit.
"Everyone at Flight of the Gibbon is deeply saddened by this event. At this time our priority is supporting the family members," the statement said.
The attraction was temporarily closed in 2016 after three Israeli tourists were injured when they collided with each other and fell to the ground.
'Caring, loving boy'
On Facebook, people in Donaldson's community expressed shock, and sadness.
Several described Donaldson as a fun-loving, adventurous and beloved man who had grown up and stayed in his hometown.
"It's so hard to believe and even accept that he is gone," Nat Cranston, the young man's childhood babysitter wrote to CBC.
She said she always laughed with him when they met up about how tall he'd become and he'd just received birthday wishes from friends earlier this month.
"Spencer was one of my first little boys that I babysat. I absolutely loved him and his family. He was so sweet, fun, caring, and just a loving boy. He still was all that and more as he grew into a young man."
