By Greg Fry

RCMP confirm search for missing jet skier likely a ‘recovery mission’

Jul 31, 2018 | 9:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — Update: The Kamloops RCMP says the South Thompson River is now open again to boaters between Lafarge Bridge and the Valleyview boat launch.

Earlier today this section of the river was closed to boaters while the RCMP Dive Team was looking for evidence of the missing boater involved in a crash Sunday afternoon.

Police say the Dive Team has completed their search operation but no sign of the male has been found to date.

The public is asked to remain vigilant while on the water.

Earlier: Kamloops RCMP has confirmed the search for a missing jet skier involved in a collision with another jet skier on the South Thompson River Sunday near Valleyview is now “likely a recovery mission.”

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“At this point we’re looking for a body at the bottom of the river. That’s not to say that it wasn’t possible for him to exit the river at some point but there’s no indication of that,” says Cpl. Jodi Shelkie.

While the search continues, she says police have again closed the South Thompson River to all boating traffic between Lafarge Bridge and the Valleyview boat launch.

“Yesterday, the dive team used sonar to search a 300 x 700 metre area where the personal watercraft driver was last seen. Today they will be expanding this search,” she says.

Shelkie says police will provide an update later today when the river is open to the public again.

On Monday, she recounted how the collision occurred, noting there was two watercraft that were travelling in the same direction on the river. Shelkie said that one of them attempted to make what appears to be a U-turn and when he turned around he hit the other watercraft in a T-bone fashion.

She said both drivers of the watercraft went under and only one of the drivers emerged from the river while the other hasn’t been seen since.

The missing jet skier has not been identified by police.