Search launched for owner of abandoned kayak spotted on river in northwestern B.C.

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      After an abandoned kayak and belongings were spotted on a river in northwestern British Columbia, police and search-and-rescue crews have been seeking to locate the owner.

      At 3:40 p.m. on August 28, a crew working with a helicopter over the Nass River contacted RCMP in Stewart, B.C., to report that they had seen an empty kayak and a backpack floating in the river.

      Although the crew searched the area, they didn’t find anyone in distress.

      A search-and-rescue team and a swift-water rescue team from Terrace, B.C. conducted an aerial search on August 28 but couldn’t find the kayak, backpack, or any individuals.

      The backpack was later found below the old Nass River Bridge on Highway 37, but it didn’t provide any information about its owner.  

      A search-and-rescue team conducted another search on August 29 with an airplane and an RCMP Air Services spotter.

      Stewart RCMP described the area as being a remote and rugged canyon that isn’t accessible by vehicle or foot.

      Stewart RCMP acting detachment commander Cst. Rob Gardener stated in a news release that they haven’t received any reports about missing people or distress calls from the area.

      However, as the individual may have notified someone about their plans or may have been seen traveling to the area in a white GMC crew cab pickup and kayak, police would like to speak to anyone who can help with the investigation.

      Anyone who saw anyone launching a kayak around the Bell Irving Bridge or has dashcam from the area on August 28 is asked to contact Stewart RCMP at 250-636-2233.

      Elsewhere in B.C. this summer, two kayakers—a 41-year-old from Penticton and a 71-year-old from Kelowna—went missing in separate cases on Lake Okanagan. Their bodies were later recovered from the waters and identified.

      Meanwhile, a 48-year-old kayaker went missing on the Sunshine Coast after heading into the water on August 19. 

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook

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