Blaine Magowan loved to travel, but now his family and friends are asking for help to get him back home one last time.
Magowan was found unconscious in the bathroom of a Boston pub on Wednesday just days after his 30th birthday. He later died in hospital. The cause of death is unknown and the results of the autopsy haven't been released.
In the midst of the dealing with the grief that surrounds the loss of their son, brother and friend, Magowan's loved ones are trying to come up with the thousands of dollars it will take to get his body back to Prince George so he can be buried in his hometown.
"It's going to cost his family $12,000 just to get his body home," family friend Amanda Repetowski said. "They are not rich by any means and they're struggling to make that work. That doesn't include the funeral costs."
A local musician who played in heavy metal bands, Magowan will be remembered as a free spirit who had a taste for adventure. From skydiving to long boarding, Magowan had many hobbies that revolved around his love of the outdoors.
Born in Kamloops, Magowan spent his early years in Quesnel before moving to Prince George as a child. He attended Ron Brent Elementary School, Duchess Park Secondary School and Kelly Road Secondary School and went on to become an electrician after studying at CNC.
He had been on a two-month coast-to-coast road trip to celebrate his birthday, stopping to visit with friends and family along the way. He had already made his way to New York and was beginning to head home when he made the stop in Boston on Wednesday.
Anyone wishing to donate to the fund set up to help cover the costs of transporting Magowan's body can get more information by visiting the Blaine Magowan Memorial Fund on Facebook or by sending an electronic transfer to [email protected].
"We're trying to get some community support and try to get his body home so we can bury him," Repetowski said.
