OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A Canadian visitor to Olympic National Park died Tuesday night when a tree fell on his tent at Elk Lake, a remote wilderness area.
The body of Thomas Bernier-Villeneuve, 34, hometown unknown, was taken to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday after it was recovered by helicopter from an estimated 15 miles inside Olympic National Park.
ONP Public Information Officer Meagan Huff said Thursday that the next-of-kin had been identified but that officials still were fact-checking what they could find out about him.
The fatality was called in using an inReach device Tuesday evening and the site was accessed by helicopter Wednesday morning, according to Huff.
inReach is a satellite communications device, so Bernier-Villeneuve’s camping partner was able to call for help from the campsite without having to hike out to get a signal. Elk Lake is located 15 miles from the Hoh Rainforest Ranger Station.
Huff said Thursday afternoon an investigation is underway to determine why the tree fell but that is unknown at this time.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at Brian.Gawley@ sound publishing.com
