Disembodied foot the 14th in decade to hit B.C. shores

Body part found by man walking his dogs on Jordan River beach, prompting probe

A human foot was found on a Jordan River beach Thursday morning, sparking an investigation by the B.C. Coroners Service.

A man walking his dogs made the discovery about 8 a.m., said Sooke RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeff McArthur. The foot was in a shoe with part of the leg attached.

The man called Sooke RCMP and Mounties went to the scene with a coroner.

Officials seized the body part and the area was searched, McArthur said.

The investigation has been turned over to the B.C. Coroners Service, which investigates all unnatural, sudden and unexpected, unexplained or unattended deaths in the province.

“Our early analysis suggests these are human remains and we will do further investigation and testing to help to determine identification in the coming weeks,” said Andy Watson, a spokesman for the B.C. Coroners Service.

The coroner will work to determine the identity of the deceased, when, where, and how the person died, the cause of death, and whether any recommendations can be made to prevent similar deaths in the future.

This is the 14th disembodied foot to wash up on B.C.’s coastline since 2007. Ten of those feet have been identified as belonging to seven people who died by accident or suicide. One foot was linked to a man who had gone missing 25 years earlier when his boat overturned near Port Moody.

The last report of a foot being found on Vancouver Island was on Feb. 7, 2016, near Port Renfrew. The B.C. Coroners Service determined the foot would have naturally separated from the body after a prolonged period in the water.

There have also been some hoaxes.

In June 2008, a foot reportedly washed up near Campbell River. It was determined that someone placed animal bones in a sock and packed it inside a sneaker with seaweed. In September of that year, someone placed a plastic foot in a runner on an East Vancouver beach.

Victoria police investigated after five child-sized shoes were found at the Clover Point beach area in 2012. Three of the shoes were stuffed with flesh and bones, but tests revealed that they were not human.