Photo: Kristen Holliday
Police tape surrounds an area at MacArthur Island Park a day after a man was swept into the Thompson River.
A man who was swept away and believed to have drowned in the Thompson River Saturday night was a visitor from out of town, according to Kamloops RCMP.
Sergeant Kelly Butler said police believe the man is from Vernon.
Speaking with Castanet Sunday afternoon, Butler said officers continued to search for the missing man.
“We have Air 4 today, we have our RCMP boat out on the water,” Butler said.
She said divers from the RCMP’s underwater recovery team are also attending to help with the search.
According to police, officers received a report of a missing man on the Thompson River — near MacArthur Island Park — around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
“Witnesses indicate that the man entered the river and was swept away by the current and did not resurface,” police said in a statement.
“Civilians attempted to assist but were unable to reach him and several boats in the area also responded but were also unable to locate the man.”
Nick Smith said he was sitting behind pitch 6 on MacArthur Island when he heard two children running from the riverbank and calling for help because someone was drowning.
“I immediately sprinted past them towards the river and saw two men already swimming looking for the lost person,” Smith said in a release to Castanet Kamloops.
Smith said he ran back to his picnic spot to call 911.
“I gave them my details and shortly after I heard the fire engine. I ran to the truck to tell them where the man had sunk.
According to police, an extensive search was conducted by Kamloops Fire Rescue and the RCMP.
Smith said he believes the city should put up a fence and signs to warn the public not to enter the river without a life jacket.
“It could have been prevented,” Smith said.
In a statement, police said the public should be aware that currents in the river are unpredictable, with many sudden drops in the river bed.
“Care should be taken with PFDs [personal flotation devices] worn when around moving water,” police said.
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