Nanaimo RCMP along with other emergency responders searched an area of the Nanaimo River on Tuesday, May 24 after an abandonned kayak was reported. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

missing

RCMP investigating ‘possible missing person’ after kayak found overturned

May 25, 2022 | 2:20 PM

NANAIMO — Local Mounties are working with neighbouring detachments to determine who owns a kayak found overturned along the Nanaimo River.

Reports of the capsized boat came in around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24 with the kayak wedged in some logs on the river, near Nanaimo River Park along Thatcher Rd.

“That obviously caused alarm bells to go off, we didn’t know whether there was a person in the water or not,” Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said. “The water is fast flowing so members got there quickly.”

Crews from Cranberry Volunteer Fire Department launched a boat, while other members searched the nearby shore. A helicopter provided support from above.

Searches of the shoreline and nearby log boom didn’t reveal anything further.

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O’Brien said they don’t have much else to go on and are looking to explain how the kayak ended up where it did.

“We always expect the worst and hope for the best,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW. “In this case, it was an overturned kayak and the question remains how it got in the water and was there somebody in the kayak, we just don’t know at this point.”

He added there have been no reports of missing or overdue people in Nanaimo or the surrounding area related to this incident.

The kayak, pictured below, is a bright green Pelican-brand one-person kayak.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250 754 2345, with file number 2022-17416.

The kayak crews recovered from the Nanaimo River, however no owner has come forward and no missing person’s report has been made. (Nanaimo RCMP)

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