Crews recover body of missing Challis student
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MALIBU, British Columbia — The body of a Challis Junior-Senior High School student who disappeared while at summer camp has been recovered.
Hanwoo Lee, a 19-year-old South Korean citizen attending school in Challis, was last seen Wednesday at the Canadian retreat northeast of Powell River, British Columbia.
Lee was among a group of 350 kids from across North America who were attending Malibu Club, a Christian youth camp run by Young Life Mission.
Lee’s cousin, Paul Kim, told CBCNews that Lee was playing volleyball near a cliff when he tried to catch the ball but fell past a safety net into the waters below.
“There are a few witnesses who saw him fall off, however, they couldn’t catch him,” Kim said.
Rescue crews have been searching for Lee since he disappeared and announced Saturday that his body has been recovered.
Young Life Mission released the following statement:
On June 8 a camper tragically drowned in the waterway adjacent to camp. We are grateful to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Coast Guard and Malibu camp staff for their tireless professional search and successful recovery efforts. We continue to grieve with and for this young man’s family and to do all we can to care for and support them at this difficult time.
Lee was two months into a year-long exchange at Challis Junior-Senior High School, according to Kim.
“He loved it, he loved going to school in Idaho,” Kim said.