A North Vancouver man who died while hiking in Squamish with his grandson is being remembered by his family as a kind, humble and inspiring athlete.
Jim Swadling and his 17-year-old grandson, Linden, had been looking forward to hiking Slhanay Peak, just northeast of the Stawamus Chief, before Linden went back to school in Ontario.
But partway along the trail on April 26, while working through a section known as “the big drop” — a steep and narrow cliff with ropes to climb — Swadling accidentally slipped and fell.
Jim Swadling won Knee Knacker 30 mile race along the Baden-Powell Centennial Trail in the 50 plus age category in 1998, 2003 (seen in this photo) and 2008 with a fastest time of 5 hours and 49 minutes. (Submitted by Daniel Swadling)
Squamish Search and Rescue was called to the location at 11 a.m. PT and said he had fallen three metres.
“It was a very complex rescue. The terrain was very, very steep, and the subject’s injuries were very critical,” said search manager Sue Nicholson.
B.C. Emergency Health Services said it responded with primary care paramedics, an advanced care paramedic response unit and an air ambulance.
“No patients were transported to the hospital,” said BCEHS spokesperson Brian Twaites.
Jim Swadling and his grandson have been adventure buddies exploring the outdoors by running, hiking, biking and skiing. (Submitted by Daniel Swadling)
Swadling’s son, Daniel (Funky) Swadling, said his father loved the outdoors and loved hiking with Linden.
“He was with someone he loved, doing what he loved, where he loved doing it,” Daniel said.
Accomplished long-distance runner
At 79 years old, Swadling had an impressive running career and made an immense impact on the people he met. He was well-known in the running community in North Vancouver, where he lived.
Long-time running friend Ean Jackson said Swadling was extremely accomplished across a “huge range” of running distances.
“[He] excelled at every distance from the mile to the hundred miles,” Jackson said.
Jim Swadling, pictured running in a race in New Zealand, was already breaking running race records and doing ‘most spectacularly’ according to his wife Erin, before they moved to Canada in 1981. (Submitted by Daniel Swadling)
Together, they spent many days running together on the track and in the North Shore Mountains.
A memorial run in honour of Swadling is scheduled for May 9 in North Vancouver,
“I would call him a quiet giant, very humble,” Jackson said. “Jim led a very full life and his life ended doing something that he loved with his loved one.”
Swadling broke Canadian records in multiple age categories and represented Canada in the 100-kilometre World Championships in the Netherlands in 1997. He also ran ultramarathons, including the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run.
Daniel said after the race in the Netherlands, he and his father rode their bikes from Holland down to the south of France.
“That is like one of my greatest memories with him, just spending time after the race, just riding all over France, stopping wherever we felt like,” Daniel said.
Jim Swadling could carry on a conversation while running and was know for his distinctive heel striking run. Seen in this photograph when he won the Inaugural Growler Run in North Vancouver. (Submitted by Daniel Swadling)’He lived for running and his family’
Swadling’s wife, Erin Swadling, said he made friends very easily, despite being quite shy.
“He did not know how impressive he was to other people,” Erin said. “He just loved to run and encouraged other people to run.”
If Swadling noticed a runner struggling, he would often drop back and run with them to encourage and support them.
“He’s a great man,” Erin said. “He didn’t want to be a role model, but he was.”
When asked how she would describe him, she said he was “a legend” — kind and caring and willing to help anyone.
“He was so kind, and he didn’t have a bad thought in his mind,” she said. “He didn’t talk down on anybody; he could only say good things about people.”
The pair moved from New Zealand to Canada with their two kids, Daniel and Ceilidh, in 1981, and Swadling worked as a computer programmer. Erin said he would often run to work in Vancouver from North Vancouver.
Linden seen on his first hike as a baby being carried in a backpack, smiling on the trail, with his grandfather Jim Swadling. (Submitted by Daniel Swadling)
“He lived for running and his family,” Erin said.
Next month, the couple would have been married for 55 years.
“He’s going to be missed by the people who knew him,” Erin said.
She said Swadling was incredibly proud of his grandson, Linden, for becoming a runner.
“Jim had been waiting for him to be able to go on long runs with him, and so this was a special last time together,” Erin said.