By James Wood

River search area expanding to Sandy Point

Jun 15, 2017 | 11:29 AM

The search effort for a B.C man who was last seen in the South Saskatchewan River on May 31 is getting back underway on the weekend.

According to Corporal Shane Ryan with the Redcliff RCMP, the search operation will be focused on the river from Medicine Hat to Sandy Point Park, close to the Saskatchewan border.

Ryan also said the time frame for the man’s body to begin floating downstream has passed, which would expand the search area further down the river.

The time period for drowning victims to re-float varies depending on a number of factors, but police have repeatedly indicated a general time frame of two weeks.

HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

Summer pool hours extended and discounts applied as Big Marble Go Centre upgrades start

Apr 18, 2024

Medicine Hat company drawing in clients with witty signage

Apr 16, 2024

Medicine Hat College holding event for missing and murdered Indigenous women awareness day

Apr 16, 2024

Ryan expected that as the operation becomes less organized over time, further search efforts will be conducted on weekends, due to volunteers from the different organizations involved in the search having more time to go out.

The Medicine Hat Fire Department, the South Eastern Alberta Search & Rescue Association (SEASAR) and the Civil Air Search and Rescue (CASARA) based out of Lethbridge had been involved in the search in previous weeks, as the organizations used the effort for training hours.

Police have previously said the most likely scenario is a recreational user finding the man’s body.