Search for man’s body will intensify over the weekend
The search for a man’s body in Miles Canyon and Schwatka Lake will ramp up over the weekend.
The search for a man’s body in Miles Canyon and Schwatka Lake will ramp up over the weekend.
It’s been five days since a 19-year-old fell or jumped from the cliffs along the canyon into the Yukon River.
It’s possible his body may rise to the water’s surface sometime in the next few days, Heather Myers of Yukon Search and Rescue (YSAR) said today.
A helicopter will be flying over the area, and YSAR and the RCMP will scan the waters by boat and on land.
Myers said some sonar tools will be used, including a camera that looks into the water.
When a body decomposes in water, air is created in the body, causing it to rise to the surface, she said.
Given the Yukon’s water temperatures, this can take about seven to 12 days.
“That’s how we decide when we’re going to amp up these search efforts,” Myers said.
“We’re a little bit early, but we just can’t predict exactly when it’s going to happen. Search efforts will continue from today until we recover the body.”
RCMP have been out on the water throughout the week.
Const. Julia Fox said this morning they are consulting with a dive team about having divers search the area as well.
The man’s name has not been released.
Some witnesses attempted to grab him after he entered the water.
One person jumped in to try to save him, but he slipped under the water’s surface.
Comments (3)
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no fix on Jun 23, 2015 at 3:20 pm
I don't think there is any fix. How many times do people drown at the spot in Riverdale where there are many signs that say "strong undertow". There are too many people with the "it won't happen to me" mentality.
It seems that in every aspect of society these days we have to protect people from themselves.
Even if there are lifejackets, they still have to put them on. You put up a fence, people will still jump it, you put up signs or memorials and people still go in.
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BnR on Jun 22, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Richard, if the boiling waters swirling along the basalt canyon walls won't deter people from jumping in, I don't know if life preservers would do the trick. Maybe just post a sign if there isn't one already. The Robert Campbell bridge has them on either end. Something along the lines of severe hazard etc.
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Richard Smith on Jun 19, 2015 at 8:07 pm
I think it would be a great idea to have a life preserver located at each end of the Miles Canyon bridge and plainly visible. They would also be a reminder to all of the danger that lurks nearby. I have contacted the city of Whitehorse in this regard already.
Strangely enough I had suggested same to the head of Yukon Tourism in the main centre a few days before this tragedy.