The Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre has called off its search for a kayaker who did not return after setting out Monday afternoon from the Cheanuh Marina in the Beecher Bay First Nation.
However, the RCMP search continued Wednesday, said Sooke RCMP Sgt. Jeff McArthur.
#SAR UPDATE:
— Victoria JRCC CCCOS (@VicJRCC_CCCOS) June 20, 2018
After a #SAR for a kayaker reported missing yesterday, the #JRCC has reduced this case and handed it to #RCMP. This case is now considered a missing person’s file. pic.twitter.com/nsFcX6Q0lH
The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue in Sooke is also assisting by transporting ground search-and-rescue teams to various islands to continue the ground search, said Jason van der Valk, a volunteer with RCM-SAR.
Search-and-rescue teams located a red kayak off the Beecher Bay First Nation, but have not confirmed whether it belongs to a man who has been missing since Monday.
The kayak is similar in colour and design to that of the missing man, said Jonathan Dunn of the Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, on Tuesday. The centre is waiting for confirmation from the Saanich man’s family that the kayak recovered belongs to him.
A Cormorant helicopter, Buffalo aircraft and Industry Canada aircraft were searching from the air while the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue and the Canadian Coast Guard had boats searching along the shoreline from Sheringham Point to Hein Bank, Dunn said.
Saanich police called the centre early Tuesday morning after the missing kayaker’s family reported that he was overdue.
Officers had a description of the man’s vehicle and licence plate and were looking for the vehicle.
Dunn said at that point there had been no rescue calls relating to the kayaker, so a search was not initiated.
“At the time they inquired, we had no knowledge the kayaker left from Beecher Bay,” Dunn said.
Just before noon, the kayaker’s vehicle was found at the nearby Cheanuh Marina and a witness reported seeing someone with a kayak leaving at noon on Monday. The search was then launched.
The kayaker’s name has not been released.
Jay Charles, who works at the Cheanuh Marina, said several fishermen saw the man fishing from his kayak about 10 or 11 a.m. Monday.
“He was trolling with our fishermen,” Charles said. “The wind picked up and everybody came in except for him, I guess.”
