Emergency crews searching the South Saskatchewan River for a missing swimmer are covering an area more than 10 kilometres long in their efforts to find the teen.
RCMP say the 17-year-old disappeared Sunday evening, around 8:45 p.m., at the Fred Heal Canoe Launch, about 12 kilometres south of the city.
Aircraft, including a STARS helicopter, searched the area Sunday night. A plane was up Monday morning, searching alongside ground and watercraft crews, and another plane is expected to take to the air Monday afternoon.
“We’re going as far downstream as into Saskatoon,” said Kim Audette, the RCMP search and rescue team’s search manager.
Police and firefighters from Saskatoon, alongside dozens of volunteers, have joined the RCMP’s search efforts. Some searchers are family members of the teen.
“We have over 60 volunteers who have come to help out,” Audette said. “Some of them are family. Many of them are friends.”
No sign of the boy has been found.
“We don’t know where he is right now,” Saskatoon RCMP Commander Greg Abbott said.
Swimming is permitted in the area the boy disappeared, according to Abbott.
