An intensive overnight search last week for a boater who was reported missing near Sechelt ended after six hours when the call was discovered to be a false alarm.
A Coast Guard helicopter and hovercraft, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 12, and RCMP responded to the call shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, conducting the search by land, air and water.
“According to the initial report, the person had not returned by sundown and was thought to have gone to the area of the Trail Islands,” said Jason Hall, RCM-SAR deputy station leader. “After an extensive six-hour search from Wilson Creek to Halfmoon Bay, one of our members found out that the person had gone to visit relatives and was confirmed to be there.”
Sunshine Coast RCMP spokesman Const. Harrison Mohr said officials learned at 5:30 a.m. on July 30 that the male had been located in the Nanaimo area and was safe.
“Police are still investigating to determine why the male had not reported his whereabouts to family,” Mohr said.
Hall said the incident demonstrates the importance of boaters and hikers letting people know where they’re going and when they expect to return.
“It also highlights how seriously the various search and rescue agencies take reports of missing people,” he said.
Coast Reporter received several calls the next day from Sechelt area residents who said they were woken up by the sound of aircraft in the area.
