Sidney/North Saanich RCMP says the search will continue on Monday for the missing kayakers, but their kayak was found on Sunday.
Staff Sgt. Wayne Conley tells CHEK News the kayak was found on Henry Island in San Juan County around 2 p.m. on Sunday, and the search will continue Monday.
“We have RCMP air and marine resources that are continuing a search,” Conley said. “We also have San Juan County sheriff’s office that are doing some searching today in that area where the kayak was found, they searched that area yesterday as well.”
Late in the afternoon on Monday, Sheriff Eric Peter with San Juan County told CHEK News they received a tip of a possible clue in the investigation near Grandma’s Cove, 20 kilometres southeast of Henry Island.
“We are currently en route with the patrol boat to go meet up with the police officers that are on the ground over there,” said Peter in a phone interview with CHEK News.
The kayakers, Daniel MacAlpine and Nicolas West, were last known to be kayaking between D’Arcy Island and Island View Beach on April 20 at 2:15 p.m. in a tandem kayak.
Monday, the search will focus in the area around San Juan Island, Lopez Island (USA), and through the Haro Strait.
RCMP says West Coat Marine is engaged in the search, and its teams are focused north of Coal Island into the upper Gulf Islands.
On Sunday, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP, Central Saanich Police, PEMO Search and Rescue, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and the Canadian Coast Guard were out searching for the two missing men.
MacAlpine is described as a 36-year-old man, approximately 5’10” tall and 150 pounds. West is described as a 26-year-old man approximately 6’5″ tall and 170 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sidney/North Saanich RCMP at 250-656-3931.
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Laura Brougham
