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UPDATED: Lions Bay SAR locate body south of Squamish area

Police say it appears to match description of missing person, but don't confirm identity

In the midst of the search for a missing woman, Lions Bay Search and Rescue says that it has located a body. 

At the same time, Squamish RCMP say that it appears to match the description of 59-year-old Lorraine Prebushewski, whom rescuers and officers have been searching for since Sunday.

Yet, authorities are still hesitant to make a confirmation on the identity.

“All initial descriptors point to it being our missing woman but a confirmed identification has yet to be made by the B.C. Coroners Service,” Squamish RCMP tweeted.

It's unclear if the identity of the body will ever be released, as a spokesperson for the coroners service told The Chief it will not release identification.

Officers say the body was found in Kelvin Grove Beach in Lions Bay, which is south of the Squamish area.

RCMP later put out a news release saying that the incident doesn't appear to be suspicious, but added that officers will be working with the coroners to determine if there's any more investigating to do.

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A member of Lions Bay Search and Rescue on scene as authorities tried looking for 59-year-old Lorraine Prebushewski. - Squamish RCMP/Twitter

Previously, Martin Colwell of Lions Bay Search and Rescue confirmed they found a body in the area where crews were conducting search operations.

“It was within the search area,” Colwell told The Chief. “We were looking in exactly the right place.”

He, too, however, was hesitant to divulge an identity

“The coroner is on the way now,” he said. “The coroner and the RCMP will make that identification.”

The coroners service confirmed to The Chief that it has been notified about a body in the Lions Bay area, but did not say if it belonged to Prebushewski.

“We will now begin our fact-finding investigation to determine who died, how, where and by what means,” said spokesperson Andy Watson.

“I don’t have any other details at this very early time of the investigation.”

Watson, however, said the coroners won't be releasing the identity due to privacy reasons.

Earlier, Squamish RCMP issued a release saying Prebushewski had not been seen since Sunday.

She had been visiting Lions Bay.

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Search crews and RCMP were sweeping the Lions Bay area for 59-year-old Lorraine Prebushewski. - Squamish RCMP/Twitter

Police say Prebushewski was last seen at 10 a.m. on Sunday and left on foot from the home she was staying at on Kelvin Grove Way, and has not been seen since.

This prompted a search from officers and rescuers, which is ongoing.

“Squamish RCMP and Lions Bay Search and Rescue conducted a large-scale operation yesterday and throughout the night and have yet to locate the woman,” reads a release from Cpl. Sascha Banks earlier this morning. “The search efforts continue this morning and throughout the day.”