UPDATE: 10:35 a.m. The search in English Bay continues after the location of a boat that was rented on Wednesday. Coast Guard ships and a military helicopter continue their search after discovering a boat rented in Vancouver near Point Atkinson in West Vancouver. It was unmanned, with the keys still on ignition and the engine running, said Lt. Wilson Ho of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, which is coordinating the search effort. “It was a 17-foot-long fiberglass rental boat,” he added. The rental agency was located, but Ho says the JRCC is only engaged in search efforts and could not specify what information may have been provided by the agency, other than saying it was “actively looking for a person”. Researchers are focusing on the English Bay section between Point Atkinson Lighthouse in West Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge between Vancouver and North Vancouver. Ho notes that it is difficult to say if the search would be successful, but says that they will continue with an active search until they receive new information. “We are always optimistic about making sure we try to save people,” he says. “There are many factors, such as survival at sea and the environment; all of these factors will affect the rate at which we find this person.” The Vancouver Police Department was also involved in the investigation. “The VPD Marine Unit was involved in the investigation and is working with the Coast Guard and the SAR,” said Sgt. Steve Addison. “We believe we know the identity of the missing person, however, we will hide additional details until we have the opportunity to meet and inform the closest relatives of the boatman.” ORIGINAL: 7 p.m. A drifting and empty rental boat led to a full search of Vancouver offshore. An official from the Joint Rescue Coordination Center said the search began Wednesday afternoon when the five-meter motorboat was found drifting in the English Gulf. The keys were still on and the throttle was fully activated, but there was no sign of the driver and no indication if other passengers were on board. Several Coast Guard boats, a Vancouver police boat and an Air Force helicopter took part in Wednesday’s search, and the rescue center says more boats are expected to be volunteered as the search remains active. Investigators are still working to determine where the boat was hired, although they confirm that the voyage began somewhere in Vancouver. A spokesman for the Rescue Coordination Center said anyone who saw anything unusual in the water or on the beaches around English Bay should call the center or call 911. – The Canadian Press
