Summary
The search that began for four missing hunters on April 26 has resulted in the body of one of the missing men being recovered from the Rocher River on April 30.
The deceased has been identified as Walter Ladouceur of Fort Chipewyan. The Edmonton Medical Examiners’ Office will be conducting an autopsy.
The RCMP, with the assistance of the E Division Underwater Recovery Team (British Columbia), K Division Air Services, along with various partners, including Parks Canada, and Human Remains Detection Dogs, continue the search for the three remaining men.
The hunters, all experienced outdoorsmen, left the community on April 23 in a boat which was later found in the river that flows through Wood Buffalo National Park. The men were heading to an area known as Devil’s Gate which is near Fort Chipewyan.
Before the search became a recovery effort, volunteers from the Mikisew Cree and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations were actively involved.
"The community of Fort Chipewyan as a whole has come together and assisted us with the search efforts," said Detachment Commander Sergeant Danny Knight. "Their time, dedication and local knowledge in trying to locate these men has been instrumental."