Emergency officials are still working to recover the body of a missing 26-year-old Burnaby man who is presumed drowned after a boating accident March 14 on the Pitt River.
The man was one of five people, including a 26-year-old woman who was found dead, were aboard a vessel near Grant Narrows when it capsized into river’s frigid waters. Police said the recovery effort has been hampered in part by staffing issues due to the coronavirus.
“Coquitlam RCMP is still investigating the cause,” Cpl. Michael McLaughlin told The Tri-City News. “Recovery efforts have been made more difficult by weather and water conditions, and by resourcing due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
Rescuers were alerted to the accident by a local boater along Quarry Road shortly after the incident occurred. One witness said they saw an aluminum-hulled boat overturn in the choppy waters.
Ray Nordstrand, a search manager for Coquitlam Search and Rescue, said three of the five people aboard were pulled from the water and sent to Royal Columbian Hospital. The body of a woman was pulled from the water but police were unable to find the missing man.
The Coquitlam RCMP said they would not be releasing the names of the deceased and missing.
