River search — UPDATED!

A helicopter runs a search pattern over the surface of the Columbia River early Wednesday afternoon, April 20. The chopper, the RCMP detachment's boat, firefighters and other EMS personnel were engaged in a search for at least one person spotted in the river's frigid waters. As RCMP detachment commander Staff Sgt. Kurt Grabinsky was leading the search in the boat no details were immediately forthcoming. Please click on the photo to see a larger version of this image. David F. Rooney photo
A helicopter runs a search pattern over the surface of the Columbia River early Wednesday afternoon, April 20. The chopper, the RCMP detachment’s boat, Search & Rescue teams, firefighters and other EMS personnel were engaged in a search for a man who did not emerge from the river’s frigid waters while swimming near the boat launch. Please click on the photo to see a larger version of this image. David F. Rooney photo

The Revelstoke RCMP and Revelstoke Search and Rescue are currently searching the Columbia River near the Centennial Park boat launch after it was reported that one adult male from a group of 3 swimmers had not exited the water.

RCMP received a report at 12:56 pm on Wednesday April 20, that one of three people swimming at the Centennial Park Boat Launch did not come out of the water. The RCMP is treating the matter as a drowning, said a statement issued by Cpl. Thomas Blakney.

“The Revelstoke RCMP immediately activated the local SAR team in addition to the RCMP Air 4 helicopter,” his statement said.  “The Revelstoke RCMP police boat along with a private boat were launched to conduct a search on the river, in addition to SAR technicians and Revelstoke Fire Rescue crews that were walking the river’s edge and park trails.”

The search ended by about 4:30 pm and while no one has yet been formally identified and the RCMP are not saying anything more before Thursday morning — at the earliest — the victim is believed to be a local man.

“Further updates will be provided when available.,” Blakney said.