Search halted for woman swept over Stamp Falls near Port Alberni

No sign of woman despite five days of effort from dive team, ground searchers

Search halted for woman swept over Stamp Falls near Port Alberni Published 6:53 pm Sunday, July 12, 2026 The search for a woman who was swept over Stamp Falls at Stamp River Provincial Park has been put on pause. Searchers said after five days of searching, including an underwater search by the RCMP Dive Team, they have halted for now.

‘Today was an incredibly difficult day for everyone involved,” a spokesperson with Alberni Valley Rescue Squad said on July 9. “Most importantly our thoughts are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy. We cannot imagine what they are going through and we are holding them in our thoughts during this devastating time.”

Emergency personnel were called to Stamp Falls on Sunday, July 5 after a woman was witnessed swimming in the Stamp River above the falls, then getting swept over the falls. Volunteer searchers with AVRS and Arrowsmith Search and Rescue searched the water and shore in the following days, assisted by Airspan, Port Alberni Fire Dept., Beaver Creek Volunteer Fire Dept., BCEHS and the RCMP. “We are also deeply grateful to every search and rescue volunteer who responded with professionalism, compassion and teamwork,” the AVRS spokesperson said.

They noted incidents such as this search “have a significant impact on responders” and peer support is available following difficult calls.