B.C. fishing mishap leaves man dead, woman missing
Man drowned and woman swept away while fishing on Cheakamus River near Whistler, B.C.
Rescue crews have called off a search after a fishing accident left a woman missing and a man drowned on the Cheakamus River near Whistler, B.C.
On Saturday, the woman and a male companion were out on a guided fishing tour when police say the woman hooked a fish and fell into the river.
The man jumped in to help but both were swept away by the fast-moving current.
The man's body was later found floating facedown in the river.
RCMP Staff Sgt. Steve LeClair said police believe the woman's body is submerged under a log or other natural feature.
"Search and rescue members that are skilled kayakers got in from the point last seen and carried on down the river until they got to a point where continuing by kayak wasn't feasible anymore and there was no sign of the missing person," he said.
"Well, the river is flowing moderately," LeClair said.
"There are a lot of logs and debris in the river and that, of course, increases the hazard. So it is a dangerous place to be if you don't have a lifejacket on ... It's been described as quite dangerous in there."
Police have not released the names of the victims, saying only that the pair was from B.C.