Man survives fall into B.C. canyon trying to retrieve ring

NORTH VANCOUVER, BC – A man two tried to retrieve his wedding ring from a canyon fell about 80 feet but escaped with apparently minor injuries, authorities said.

The man attempted a controlled slide down the steep slope near a suspension bridge over Lynn Canyon on Sunday morning but lost his footing, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Staff Sgt. Darryl Hammond said.

The man, whose only apparent injuries were bumps and bruises, was hauled to safety by North Shore Search and Rescue personnel and a fire department crew.

It was unclear how he lost the ring or whether he got it back. Hammond said the man made the attempt after “he saw a small sparkle” at the bottom of the canyon in this Vancouver suburb.

“I didn’t ask if he got the ring back. I was too busy shaking my head,” Hammond said. “Losing a wedding ring is a lot better than losing your life.”