Skip to content

Another foot surfaces

A human leg bone sticking out of a running shoe was found Tuesday in False Creek, marking the eighth severed foot to be found in B.C. in four years.

A human leg bone sticking out of a running shoe was found Tuesday in False Creek, marking the eighth severed foot to be found in B.C. in four years.

Police say a passerby spotted the shoe floating in water next to the Plaza of Nations marina near Edgewater Casino shortly before 5 p.m.

One of the eight feet was found in Richmond, on the banks of the Fraser River's south arm, in 2008.

"Upon examination by the BC Coroners Office it does appear to be human remains," Vancouver police Const. Jana McGuinness said Tuesday night.

"These aren't common discoveries," she told reporters. "This is the first time this has happened in Vancouver."

Vancouver police have passed the investigation to the coroners service, McGuinness said.

In all, 11 severed feet have washed up in the Pacific Northwest since August 2007.

Human remains encased in running shoes can float great distances, experts say, and aren't necessarily the result of foul play.

Shoes and socks can keep feet from decomposing while other body parts could easily become separated through exposure to the elements or marine life such as crabs.

The RCMP has handled all the Canadian discoveries until now, and in December Cpl. Annie Linteau said there have been no indication any of the feet were severed or forcibly removed.

The most recent discovery was last December in Tacoma, Wash. Police there said the Size 6 Ozark Trail brand hiking boot likely belonged to a youth or small adult.

In May, police announced two feet found in 2008 on Whidbey Island in Washington and on a Richmond beach - a distance of approximately 200 kilometres - belonged to a Surrey man who was reported missing seven years ago.

The first foot was discovered in August 2007 on Jedediah Island, northeast of Nanaimo, and belonged to a deceased man whose name police withheld at the request of his family.

A man's right foot found on Gabriola Island in August 2007 remains unidentified, as do two feet found on Valdez and Westham islands in July 2008, both of which belonged to the same man.

Two female feet found in Richmond in December 2008 belonged to the same woman.

The media attention around the discoveries has also brought a number of false reports from concerned residents who have mistaken seal or sea lion remains for that of humans.