Coroner identifies Seattle man who died climbing near Penticton

Stas Eric Gray died Saturday when he fell eight metres from a cliff at Skaha Bluffs

Coroners have now confirmed the identity of a Seattle man who died Saturday afternoon while rock climbing near Penticton.

Stas Eric Gray, 31, had been scaling the cliffs with friends at Skaha Bluffs south of the city when he fell approximately eight metres to the ground below, the B.C. Coroners Service said Tuesday in a press release.

“Despite the best efforts of fellow climbers and emergency personnel, Mr. Gray died at the scene,” said the release, which did not note what sort of safety equipment he was using during what was his third climb of the day.

Gray’s family has requested privacy.

The RCMP and B.C. Coroners Service are still investigating the fatality.

Penticton and District Search and Rescue also responded to the scene on Saturday and was preparing to extricate Gray by helicopter before he succumbed to his injuries, according to spokesman Randy Brown.

 

Penticton Western News