1 dead after men swept over falls in Golden Ears park

One young man is dead after he and a friend were swept over the Gold Creek Falls while swimming in Golden Ears Provincial Park east of Vancouver on Friday, police said.

RCMP and rescue crews from Maple Ridge recovered the body of one man Friday evening. On Saturday, they resumed their search for the body of the other man.

Police say five friends watched helplessly from the shore as a strong current pulled the young men, ages 19 and 21, down and over a waterfall.

The men were swimming in an area that is considered to be safe in the summer but can be dangerous at this time of year.

One of the friends is a lifeguard and had warned the pair to stay out of the water, police said. There were also signs in the area warning people not to swim.

"The river is running strong because of the melt," said Maple Ridge assistant fire chief Howard Exner. "The area where they swim, where a lot of people like to go swimming, has a very glassy top to the water. Unfortunately underneath it, it has a very strong current."

With no cell service in the area it took 15 minutes until they could call for help.

Police have not released the identities of the young men, but say one is from Surrey and the other is from Delta.