The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) suspended its search Friday afternoon for a missing boater in the Saint John River.
“After an extensive search in the air and on the water near Long Reach, NB, the search for Wayne MacKenney, missing since last evening, has been suspended,” JRCC said in a post on Twitter at around 2:20 p.m.
MacKenney was on a boat with friends Thursday evening when officials say the 70-year-old man fell overboard around 6:30 p.m.
“His colleagues on-board the vessel tried to recover him but were unable to and they called 911,” Lt.-Cmdr. Brian Owens, senior public affairs officer of JRCC, said in a phone interview Friday morning.
Owens said JRCC immediately dispatched a Canadian Coast Guard Ship and a Cormorant helicopter, along with some fire-rescue boats and the RCMP.
Search crews worked throughout the night but were unable to find any sign of McKenney, he said.
“The last known position was marked by the individuals on the pontoon boat but we have not seen or had any evidence to draw us to where this individual is at this point in time,” said Owens.
JRCC said the matter will now be turned over to the RCMP as a missing persons at sea case.
RCMP confirmed Friday afternoon that they continue to search for MacKenney. Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said the Underwater Recovery Team was on scene to assist.
MacKenney is described as about 5’8″ tall, weighing about 250 pounds, with hazel eyes and grey hair.
He was last seen wearing a dark green shirt, jeans and was wearing prescription glasses.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grand Bay-Westfield RCMP detachment at 506-757-1020.
After an extensive search in the air and on the water near Long Reach, NB, the search for Wayne MacKenney, missing since last evening, has been suspended.
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) September 24, 2021
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