Tributes for man who died trying to save his wife
FLOAT HOME: Everett McGowin’s body recovered
A man who dove into the fast-moving Fraser River in a failed attempt to save his wife was remembered Monday as gracious and hard-working.
Delta police said a woman fell into the river behind her float home in the 4300-block of River Road West about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, and her husband dove in to save her.
The woman, identified by neighbours as Linda McGowin, was rescued shortly after her fall, but Everett McGowin’s body was retrieved Monday afternoon.
“Police were alerted to an incident in which a man and wife were on board their personal boat which was moored to their residential house boat which sits on the Fraser River,” Delta Police said in a release. “The wife fell into the water followed shortly after by the husband who was trying to assist his wife.
“The investigation revealed that the wife was able to hold onto a structure in and around the residential houseboats and was subsequently rescued by a neighbour.”
Don Bruchet, past president of the Floating Home Association Pacific, called McGowin, 74, “one of the most gracious, polite directors on our board.”
Bruchet described McGowin as “a very, very hard worker in his business,” the OK Boot Corral, a Western wear shop in Vancouver’s Gastown.
“His wife Linda is a passionate gardener. They have a beautiful home and lifestyle.”
Bruchet said the community of 150 float homeowners in west Ladner is close-knit and everyone looks after each other.
“We’re all on the lookout,” said Bruchet, who lives downriver from the McGowins.
Current association president Katherine Hammond called the couple social and welcoming, and described McGowin as an important and long-standing member of the community.
She said the McGowins have enjoyed living on the river in such “an incredibly beautiful and wild place.”
“It’s obviously a tragedy,” Hammond said.
Outside the OK Boot Corral, a longtime Carrall Street landmark that features a giant red cowboy boot on the sidewalk, an employee in cowboy attire who was greeting customers turned grim-faced when approached by a reporter.
“I’ve been told by head office that there’s no comment,” said the man, decked out in a leather cowboy hat.
“His wife is in the hospital in stable condition. There’s no one else to talk to — maybe later in the week.”
Bruchet and other neighbours of the McGowins said the river is extremely cold, the current strong and the water level high because of the spring freshet.
Bruchet said docks are equipped with ladders and rescue equipment and floathome residents are generally careful around the water.
“It’s hard to say what exactly happened to him, but obviously something that he was not expecting,” Bruchet said.
“This is really a shock to have him go this way.”