Ryan Pratt is considered missing after friends were unable to locate him over the weekend on his sailboat off Hammond Bay in north Nanaimo. (submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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Nanaimo RCMP searching for missing boater

Dec 4, 2023 | 11:05 AM

NANAIMO — Local Mounties in conjunction with the RCMP’s West Coast Marine unit are searching for a missing man.

Thirty-five year old Ryan Pratt was last seen Friday, Dec. 1 at around 4 p.m. by friends, who saw him riding on a small skiff. They were then unable to locate him later, on or around his sailboat moored off Hammond Bay.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW friends reported him missing to RCMP the following morning, with immediate searches from police yielding no results.

“[Saturday], the small skiff he uses to go back and forth was found washed up on the shores of Shack Island, which is near Piper’s Lagoon, and a small canoe he often uses to go back and forth was also found adrift.”

Searches continued through the weekend and in the surrounding area on Sunday and Monday.

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“Search and Rescue, West Coast Marine Services and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, they’ve been checking the waters and we’ve also been scouring the shoreline but there’s been no sign of him at this point.”

If anyone sees Pratt or has information on his whereabouts, they’re asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250 754 2345.

Pratt’s sailboat remains moored off Hammond Bay, however smaller boats associated with it were found adrift. (submitted photo)

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