Police in North Vancouver say that 17-year-old American student Daniel Cho was told to stop climbing over safety barriers at least once before he fell to his death at the Capilano Suspension Bridge on Sunday.
RCMP investigators have ruled out foul play in Cho's death, and say that no one witnessed him climb over a 1.2-metre-high rail surrounding a viewing platform at the popular tourist attraction before he fell.
"This may seem surprising, but the lookout platform is hidden from view by tall trees, shadow and the steep terrain of the canyon," Const. Michael McLaughlin said in a press release.
Not even video surveillance cameras captured Cho's climb.
McLaughlin said that Cho ignored warnings to stay within the safety barriers.
"In spite of the many warning signs and high barriers, Cho had earlier been seen going over similar barriers in a different location and had been warned to stop."
Police say that the investigation is now in the hands of the BC Coroners Service.
Cho was visiting Canada along with 104 other students as part of a graduation trip from Aragon High School in San Mateo, a large suburb roughly 15 miles south of San Francisco. The group was accompanied by seven teachers and 17 volunteer chaperones.
The group arrived last weekend on a bus chartered through Hesselgrave Tours based in Bellingham, Washington, just south of the B.C. border. The group, consisting of band, orchestra and choir members from all grades, was scheduled to visit Killarney Secondary School in Vancouver Monday as part of a musical exchange program.
The students are scheduled to perform in Victoria later this evening.
