‘Doesn’t feel real’: Family searches for Coquitlam man believed swept away during atmospheric river

Robert Belding’s family has been searching without rest since the 59-year-old went missing near the Coquitlam River amid torrential rainfall Sunday evening.

Coquitlam Search and Rescue (CSR) says Robert was last seen near Pipeline Road and Galette Avenue around 5 p.m. In an update Monday, CSR said it believes he fell in or was swept away by the overflowing river.

Robert’s daughter, Jessica Belding, and son, Aaron Belding, told CityNews Tuesday that the family is “numb and distraught” over the situation. 

“It just doesn’t really feel real,” said Jessica. “We’ve just been searching all day.”

She explains that her father was helping a friend in the area when he went outside with his brother’s dog. Both Robert and the dog went missing, though the dog was later found near Shaughnessy Street and David Place.

Coquitlam recorded more than 250 millimetres of rain on Oct. 19, with most of the Lower Mainland and B.C.’s South Coast seeing between 100 and 200 mm during the atmospheric river event. The massive three-day storm broke 12 one-day rainfall records in B.C.

Quickly after Robert went missing, Jessica says she and her cousin went looking for him.

“We were out ’til 3:30 in the morning, just bush-whacking with flashlights and calling his name, doing everything we can. And then we’ve been back at it since before seven o’clock [Monday].”

She says her dad is a strong person, outdoor-savvy, and has recovered from accidents before this.

“We’re hoping that he floated and was able to grab onto something, and he is just buried somewhere, injured, and can’t get out. So we’re just hoping that we’ll find him some obscure place. We’re hoping he’ll get out, obviously,” said Jessica.

Coquitlam recorded more than 250 millimetres of rain over three days, with most of the Lower Mainland and B.C.’s South Coast seeing between 100 and 200 mm during the atmospheric river event.

The massive three-day storm broke 12 one-day rainfall records in B.C.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen Robert, — or has information on his whereabouts — to call the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file 2024-27890.

—With files from Monika Gul