A cellphone found on a lakeshore, an unmanned, drifting canoe and paddle are the only indications that a 35-year-old man believed to have drowned was ever on Lake Isle.
Rescue crews began searching murky waters yesterday morning, hoping to find him.
“We’re 99.9 per cent certain he’s in that lake somewhere,” Evansburg RCMP Sgt. Carol Spear said. “But it’s all circumstantial at this point.”
Police said the missing Edmontonian, whose name isn’t being released, told his family while intoxicated that he was going fishing on Saturday night.
“There was alcohol involved, and I don’t think anybody believed him,” Spear added. “They thought he was going to bed. Looks like he helped himself to a boat.”
Police believe he drove to the lake, about 100 kilometres west of Edmonton, came upon the boat and entered the water around 3:30 a.m. yesterday.
A helicopter, RCMP rescue boat, Fish and Wildlife officers, and Mounties searched the shore of the large, shallow lake, hoping to find the missing man.
Less than one week ago, a 21-year-old man was found dead in Antler Lake. Police believe he had been drinking before jumping in a canoe with a friend.
