FILE PHOTO.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
July 28, 2023 - 9:20 AM
The body of the captain of a commercial fishing boat that capsized during a storm on Okanagan Lake on Monday has still not been recovered.
According to a Vernon RCMP media release issued today, July 28, police and Vernon Search and Rescue have been conducted and the man still remains unaccounted for.
The captain has been identified as Travis Van Hill.
RCMP says several agencies are now working together to determine how to recover the partially submerged vessel.
The boat capsized near Ellison Provincial Park on July 24 during a storm.
Police say criminality is not suspected and the RCMP will no longer be directly involved in the recovery of the boat.
"This has transitioned solely to a missing person investigation and will continue until the person is located," Vernon RCMP Const. Chris Terleski said in the release.
"Sadly, we haven’t found any indication that the victim survived the incident but this cannot be confirmed until he has been located. We’ll continue to offer our full support to the family as they navigate the anguish and uncertainty of this unfortunate tragedy."
Police say search and rescue volunteers will continue to search for the missing man.
On the same day the fishing boat capsized, a kayaker was lost on Kalamalka Lake.
Police have identified the kayaker as 26-year-old Eli Buruca. His body has not yet been found, but police presume he drowned.
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