Police are investigating the sudden death of a Whitehorse man who was reported missing last week.

Friends reported 56-year-old Darcy Helman missing from the downtown area last Wednesday, and on Friday told police he may have drowned, according to the RCMP.

"On July 1st, RCMP received further information that the missing male may have fallen into the river, as he had fallen in a few days previous near Boston Pizza and had been pulled out by a friend,” the police reported today.

Later that day, a canoeist paddling in Lake Laberge near the mouth of the Yukon River noticed what appeared to be a body snagged on a log. He contacted police, who attended and recovered the body of the missing man.

Neither police nor the coroner have determined the cause of death.

Helman's body was sent to Vancouver for an autopsy this morning, according to chief coroner Sharon Hanley. At this point investigators believe he died by drowning, she said, noting "there were no obvious injuries on his body.”

Foul play is not believed to be involved, police said today.

The investigation is continuing in conjunction with the Yukon Coroner Service.