On Thursday October 23rd at 6:20pm, Wood Buffalo RCMP received a report of a missing hunter approximately 100 kilometers north of Fort McMurray. Police searched for 31 year old Trevor SIMON of Fort McMurray. He was in a canoe on the Athabasca River with a friend and dropped the friend off on shore with the intentions of meeting at a landing down river. After an hour had passed, the friend reported that Mr. Simon never showed up at the agreed location.
RCMP Search and Rescue Teams using All-Terrain Vehicles were deployed to assist in the search. Shortly after 3:30 am on Friday October 24th, it was confirmed Trevor SIMON was located uninjured. He was able to find his way to an all-terrain vehicle trail and located some members of the public on ATVs. It appears strong currents in the river at the time prevented Mr. Simon from meeting his friend at the landing and was unable to get to shore. Mr. Simon received first aid by RCMP members on scene and was transported to hospital as a precaution due to being exposed to the elements for an extended period of time.
Although this search had a positive ending, police would like to remind the public not to engage in search efforts if not trained to do so, especially in a wilderness area.
Wood Buffalo RCMP would like to thank all who assisted in this search and its successful conclusion.
If you have information about this, or any other investigation(s), please call the Wood Buffalo RCMP at (780) 788-4000, or if you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1.800.222.8477 (TIPS), by internet atwww.tipsubmit.com, or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers [www.crimestoppers.ab.ca] for instructions on how to do). You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest(s), the recovery of stolen property, and/or a seizure of illicit drugs, you may be eligible for a cash reward.