Three kayakers could do nothing but watch as a fourth member of their group was swept away to his death in the “treacherous,” fast-moving waters of the Bass River of Five Islands.
“The missing individual got caught in an eddy and a flow and got pulled under,” said RCMP Sgt. Al Affleck, after the body of the kayaker had been recovered Thursday. “They couldn’t grab the kayak, they lost sight of it and lost sight of him.”
He said the 31-year-old man was a former Hants County resident who had been living in Ontario. Family members have asked that his identity not be released.
Two of the other three individuals are believed to be from Halifax while one is said to be from Truro.
Affleck said police received word of the missing kayaker about 10 p.m. Wednesday but weather conditions did not permit a search effort to get underway until early Thursday morning. His body was found a few hours later.
