Squamish RCMP is asking people to be cautious on water after several reports in the region of flipped kayakers, kayakers in trouble or empty kayaks located by the police.
“Water incidents are on the rise with the warm weather and lifting of COVID restrictions. Please be aware of your surroundings. The Sea to Sky is no stranger to tragedies in our lakes, rivers and oceans,” Squamish RCMP said.
Over the past weekend, Squamish attended to a call about a group of kayakers that were caught up in the current in the Squamish River, but were able to make it to the shore.
The other report was of a kayaker who had overturned in the Mamquam River. Police later determined that it was an abandoned kayak.
Meanwhile, Whistler RCMP says there is still no sign of the kayaker that went missing in Cheakamus River on June 21.
“The efforts continue. There has been no new sign of the missing kayaker,” said Staff. Sgt Paul Hayes of Whistler RCMP.
The man’s kayak was discovered several kilometers downstream from where he was reported missing. It was trapped in a log jam.
The river in the search area is currently running very high and fast which has made search difficult and extremely dangerous, Whistler RCMP says.