Police in West Vancouver are asking for the public’s help to locate a kayaker who was last seen on Tuesday afternoon.
The West Vancouver Police Department says the 36-year-old man left Batchelor Bay, just west of Whytecliff Park, around 12:40 p.m. on Nov. 19 for what police say was supposed to be “a short paddle.”
“He was last seen rounding Whyte Islet, heading North towards Whytecliff Park. He did not return by his anticipated arrival time of 2:30 p.m. and was reported missing shortly after 4 p.m.,” the WVPD said in a statement Wednesday.
Tuesday saw stormy conditions right across B.C.’s South Coast as a ‘bomb cyclone,’ a rapidly depending low storm system, brought strong winds and large waves.
Police describe the missing man as being 5’10”, about 170 pounds, with dark hair and brown eyes. Police say he was last seen wearing a black rain jacket, black track pants, black flip-flops, and was in a white collapsable kayak.
“The search for the man is ongoing,” police say.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria tells 1130 NewsRadio it received a call around 5 p.m. for the missing kayaker.
According to the team, crews from Comox, Kitsilano, as well as the Canadian Coast Guard were deployed.
Callers said they saw Coast Guard helicopters and police boats near Passage Island and Fisherman’s Cove, right by Batchelor Bay.
Joint Rescue says the search was suspended at around 10:20 p.m.
Anyone who knows his whereabouts or who has any information related to the missing kayaker is being urged to call police at 604-925-7300.