Ft Nelson- The search for 66 year old Isadore Lomen of Fort Liard has been suspended.

 

He was last seen by his spouse after he fell out of his boat and struggled to get to shore while his wife watched from shore.

 

She was unable to report him missing until later in the day when another boat came up the river and she signaled for help.

 

The exhaustive search involved more than eleven (11) local boats, including one RCMP vessel from Fort Liard. Search and Rescue (SAR) from BC and NWT, have assisted in the search since it was first reported on Sunday. Fixed and rotary winged aircraft was also involved in the search.

 

The river is currently running (8-10 Km/h); the water is muddy and is currently providing only 2 - 3 inches of visibility. There is also considerable debris in the river.

 

Searchers walked the river bank in both directions for several hundred meters in the area where Lomen fell overboard with no sign of him.

 

The public search will be reviewed in 7 to 10 days at which time an aircraft or marine vessel will be considered to conduct a follow up search of the area downstream.