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Update: Coroner confirms body found in Richmond pond is missing visitor

Items of Ephraigm Flores' clothing found in Garden City Park led police to search nearby pond

A body pulled from a pond in Garden City Park on New Year’s Eve is that of missing 23-year-old Ephraigm Flores.

Although family members identified Flores on the weekend via an online fundraising site, the death was only officially confirmed by the BC Coroner’s Service on Monday.

Flores, who lived in Toronto but had family and work connections in Richmond, was visiting the city and had not been seen since returning from a music event at B.C. Place on Boxing Day.

After his family raised the alarm on Dec. 27, Richmond RCMP asked the public to keep an eye out for Flores.

But fears for his wellbeing grew as items of his clothing were found in the park and police began to search the pond near Garden City Road and Granville Avenue.

And in the early afternoon of last Thursday, Dec. 31, search teams from the RCMP and Richmond Fire-Rescue discovered Flores’ body in the frigid waters of the pond.

Park closed
Garden City Park was closed for several days in late December as police searched for a missing man.

Although both the coroner and Richmond RCMP continue to investigate the death, police say there doesn’t appear to be suspicious circumstances.

Flores’ family has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to fly his body home to Toronto for a funeral.

In an emotional post written by a woman identifying herself as Flores’ sister, the fundraiser states, “For the past few days, the Flores family spent the holidays looking for Ephraigm. He was lost. He was missing and everyone even people we do not know tried to search for him. In behalf of our family, thank you for all the efforts, it means a lot to us. Now, we found him. But, the situation was not what the family expected.”

The campaign had raised more than $13,000 in its first day and, as of Tuesday morning, stood at more than $16,000.

It appears that Flores used to work as a nurse at Rosewood Manor in Richmond, as tributes to his character were posted online by his former colleagues.

“I could not have asked for a better best friend, you have showed me a warmth and care I have never felt. You lived life fearlessly, and gave me the strength to do so too,” said one former colleague, while another said, “My condolences, thoughts and prayers are sent out to the family and friends! I can tell you that everyone at Rosewood is deeply saddened!!”

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A search team from Richmond RCMP board a craft on Garden City Pond on Wednesday afternoon - Graeme Wood/Richmond News