Family confirms identity of second Canmore climbing tragedy victim
Jane Vuong, 25, ‘knew what she was doing’
As family confirmed the identity of the second victim in a Canmore climbing accident, loved ones of the two deceased climbers said they plan to meet to share their grief.
Family have identified Jane Vuong, 25, as the second victim in Sunday’s accident east of Canmore.
Vuong and Ranjit Sidhu, 31, were rappelling down a steep wall on the west side of Heart Mountain Creek when something went wrong, causing the pair to tumble nearly 100 metres to the ground.
The climbing partners, who were also co-workers at Manulife Insurance, fell shortly before 1 p.m. as they made their way down the cliff face following a long “multipitch” climb.
Vuong’s brother said Tuesday that his little sister was an experienced climber.
“She knew what she was doing,” Kent Vuong said. “Unfortunately, none of us will ever know what actually happened on Sunday, but I’m sure it was more of a freak accident than negligence.”
“She was not one to take shortcuts to go up faster or come down faster.”
He said his family is still coming to grips with the loss of the petite climber with a taste for adventure. Kent said that as soon as he learned that his sister was in an accident Sunday he rushed to meet police officers at his parents’ home.
“I didn’t tell my parents per- sonally, I didn’t know how. I couldn’t break the news to them,” Kent said.
“She was incredibly adventurous and independent, but at the same time, she always made an effort to let people know she cares for them.”
Friends said Vuong and Sidhu had just begun working together at Manulife Insurance and that the pair had bonded over a mutual interest in extreme sports and the outdoors.
Now their families are preparing to mourn together.
Kent said he has already met with Ranjit’s older brother
“We’re going to try and make an effort to get both families to meet,” he said.
Family of the British-born Sidhu said they were preparing to honour his memory.
“It’s not something you can prepare for.
“You don’t think of losing a sibling,” said Sidhu’s older sister, Bal Sull.
She said she’s comforted by some of the last words she can remember her brother ever saying in a conversation they had about climbing.
“He said if he were to go this way, it would be the best way to go because he did love doing it.”