Family of Ontario man found dead in B.C. raise funds to have his body returned

RICHMOND – Friends and family of a 23-year-old Toronto man have launched an online fundraising drive as they face the expense of returning his body to Ontario from British Columbia.

In posts on a GoFundMe site, the family of Ephraigm Flores say a five-day search for the recently licensed nurse ended tragically on New Year's Eve when his body was found in Richmond.

RCMP in the Vancouver suburb began a search after Flores was last seen in Richmond on Boxing Day returning from a concert in Vancouver.

The B.C. Coroners Service says RCMP divers recovered his body from a pond in a park on Dec. 31.

Police and the coroner are continuing to investigate the death, which is not considered suspicious.

A fundraising drive to assist the Flores family has a goal of $25,000 and raised nearly $14,000 in just over a day after being posted.