Search for missing boater on Wanapitei River ends in tragedy

Police in Greater Sudbury have recovered the body of a 68-year-old man who went missing Monday in the Wanapitei River.

A coordinated search for a missing boater on the Wanapitei River ended Tuesday evening with the recovery of the man’s body.

The Greater Sudbury Police Service was first dispatched to the river in the area of Highway 537 and Estaire Road around 4:25 p.m. on Monday after receiving reports of a missing person.

According to police, the incident occurred when two individuals were in a small aluminum boat near the rapids.

“They had gone into the water to, dislodge a boat that was lodged in the rapids when one of the individuals fell overboard,” said Greater Sudbury Police Service spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn in an interview with CTV News on Tuesday afternoon.

“The second individual did not go into the water and is safe. However, the 68-year-old man who did go into the water has not yet been recovered.”

Initial information stated that “the boat tipped causing one of the individuals to fall out of the boat.”

Extensive search efforts deployed

The initial emergency response involved multiple agencies. Greater Sudbury Fire and Paramedic Services arrived on scene, with fire department water rescue members entering the river and paramedics deploying an Argo vehicle to drive the shoreline.

The police service’s own resources were also mobilized.

“Initial response was, Greater Sudbury Fire services, water rescue. However, we do have a search and rescue unit as well as the ability to conduct a ground and aerial search,” Dunn said.

“Officers responded from our canine unit as well as our search and rescue team and patrol operations. They did an aerial search with our RPAS and then an extensive ground search in the area.”

Search efforts continued throughout Monday night without success.

On Tuesday, the search intensified with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police. The OPP provided its search and recovery team and a helicopter to aid the ongoing ground and water operations.

Body recovered

The extensive search concluded shortly after 5:20 p.m. on Tuesday.

Sudbury police confirmed that “members of the OPP Search and Recovery Team located the body of the 68-year-old, man under water near the rapids where the original incident occurred.”

Police expressed condolences to the man’s family and friends.

“His name will not be released out of respect for the family’s wishes,” said police.

Authorities also extended their gratitude to the other services involved.

“We would like to thank the Ontario Provincial Police for its assistance with this matter,” said Sudbury police Tuesday evening – the service had previously thanked the city’s fire and paramedic personnel for their efforts during the initial response.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Lyndsay Aelick