Lac La Biche RCMP locate Missing Boater Deceased

On August 5, 2016 members from the Lac La Biche RCMP Detachment along with Alberta Park Service and local search and rescue recovered a body from Blackett Lake. A 31 year old man from Cold Lake is now confirmed deceased.

The deceased man and a friend were fishing when their boat capsized and he was not able to swim to shore. Friends on shore at the campground were able to activate an emergency beacon.

Police are not considering the man’s death suspicious nor criminal in nature and will not be releasing his name.

RCMP have engaged the Medical Examiner in determining the exact cause of death.

Additional information in this matter will not be released to the public.

BACKGROUND

On August 1, 2016 members from the Lac La Biche RCMP Detachment responded to a call from the International Emergency Response Coordination Centre (IERCC) which advised an emergency beacon was activated on Blackett Lake. RCMP and Alberta Parks staff attended the lake and immediately started searching for a man who was believed to have drowned.

The missing man and a friend were fishing when their boat capsized. One of the men was not able to swim to shore and friends at the campground were able to activate the emergency beacon.

The RCMP, with assistance from Alberta Parks and Little Divide Search and Rescue, continue to search the lake. The family of the man has been advised.

*Press Release from the Alberta RCMP