LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - 2012 is off to a warm start, but while some southern Albertans are happy about the lack of winter weather, it may have contributed to the death of a man near Indian Battle Park.
On Monday a cadaver-trained search dog scoured the hill leading into the park after a body was found.
"A citizen was walking in the coulees near the area of the 3rd Avenue South hill and observed some wildlife activity," says Kristen Harding of the Lethbridge Regional Police Service. "Upon closer inspection he discovered the remains of a deceased male, subsequently an investigation was launched."
The remains have been tentatively identified and transported to the Calgary medical examiner's office for an autopsy. "The scene was consistent with the individual having slept or been living in the coulees," Harding says.
Streets Alive director Ken Kissick says it's something he's seen before.
"People who choose to live a street lifestyle have friends and enemies and so they are very conscious about their possessions and their belongings," Kissick says. "And sometimes in a closed environment like the shelter, they don't feel like they're protected and so they look after themselves is kind of their motto."
Kissick adds that normally by this time of year cold weather has driven those people inside to shelters, but this year unseasonably warm temperatures are allowing them to stay outside.
"This weather coming and going like it is, is ideal breeding ground for things and viruses that will bring on things like pneumonia or health issues, breathing problems or stuff like that, that can really affect their health and then they choose to stay outside because in minus 5 at night, with a proper sleeping bag...these guys know how to survive."
Police say the cause of death is still unknown but foul play isn't suspected. "It's really difficult to determine how long that individual would have been out there, until the autopsy is completed," says Harding.
Kissick says the death is a tragedy.
"Everyone is someone's son or daughter, brother or uncle, they belong somewhere, they're not absolutely void of family and so these are people these are human beings, they're part of our community and it's just difficult when something like this happens because you feel like here's someone that we could have helped if they'd wanted help, but they obviously choose not to get help," he says.
Police say the victim's family has been notified, but so far no name has been released.
© Shaw Media Inc., 2012. All rights reserved.