Helicopter, hovercraft’s search for missing man in English Bay suspended

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) has confirmed to CityNews that the helicopters and hovercraft spotted in English Bay Friday were searching for a missing man, but the search has been suspended.

The 65 year-old was reported missing around 5 p.m. after canoeing in the area of Third Beach near English Bay.

Captain Chris Dube with the JRCC says a Cormorant helicopter was sent to the area, along with “a few assets from the Coast Guard.”

“Nothing was found, and now the search has been suspended, and it’s been turned over to Vancouver Police as a missing persons case,” Dube said.

Dube says it’s unclear why the search was suspended or what that might mean.

“Each case is so different, it’s hard to really draw conclusions from it,” he said. “Based on various reasons, they decided to suspend the search. And in those cases, if they don’t find the person, it’s turned into a missing persons case.”

CityNews received multiple reports of sightings of the Cormorant helicopter and a hovercraft circling English Bay between the afternoon until 9:30 p.m.

Adriana-Pena McCormick is a West Vancouver resident who says she say a helicopter searching English Bay for several hours.

“We saw the search and rescue helicopter, my mom and I,” she said.

“It was circling around for several hours. And then we did see the Coast Guard, and I think another little boat was also there.”




We have reached out to the Canadian Coast Guard for more information.



This is a developing story.

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