The search has been called off for a 24-year-old Salmon Arm man who was swept away by strong Seymour River currents after jumping in for a swim.
Rescuers believe Andrew Wilson is most likely lost somewhere in the turbidity of a churning river eddy, possibly at the base of the remote Seymour Falls, located at the head of Shuswap Lake three hours northeast of Kamloops.
Wilson and a friend were hiking towards the falls Monday afternoon when Wilson jumped in at around 3 p.m. to cool off.
“He was immediately swept downriver right toward the falls,” said Chase RCMP Sgt. Gary Heebner.
Wilson’s friend flagged down a passing motorist on a logging road and Search and Rescue was deployed around 4:30 p.m. But search efforts covering ground and air for two days were unsuccessful and emergency personnel hold out little hope.
The terrain and water is described as extremely rugged, according to Heebner. Rescuers cannot navigate 80 per cent of the river without significant risk, he said.
“The dive team has ruled out the possibility of a dive search at any point of the river because the conditions are considered too dangerous,” said Heebner. “Locals suggest water levels will slowly recede until August, September.”
Although air searches provided a good eye view, searchers said they would not be able to spot Wilson unless he surfaced.
Wilson’s family arrived to the rescuers’ staging area in Seymour Arm on Tuesday afternoon. The search was called off around 4:30 p.m., 24 hours after it began.
