A man from Abbotsford is missing after a boat capsized in the Fraser River near Chilliwack on Friday (May 7).
Extensive searches were conducted by Chilliwack Search and Rescue, Chilliwack RCMP, Abbotsford Police, and police dog services, trying to locate the missing fisherman — to no avail, Chilliwack RCMP spokesman Mike Rail said.
“The man was last seen about 100 yards from where the boat went down,” Rail said, according to the police report.
The two friends had been fishing in a 14-foot Jon boat just west of where the Vedder meets the Fraser River. The anchor got snagged on something, and the boat began to fill with water.
They lunged to grab the life jackets, but the boat flipped over. One of the two, who was wearing waders, managed to swim to shore, and pulled himself out at the edge of the Bert Brink Wildlife Management Area, on the Fraser side.
A passing boater later spotted the man, rescued him on the Vedder side more than an hour later. He called the incident into 911.
They later found the boat, but no sign of the second man. Another search by water has been set for Wednesday.
Some water safety tips from RCMP:
• Always wear a personal flotation device;
• Do not put your feet down in fast-moving water;
• Be wary of the dangers of cold-water immersion;
• File a trip plan – let someone you know where you are going and when you are returning.
RELATED: No sign of fisherman after boat capsized in 2012
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