Richmond RCMP has located and identified a Richmond man who went missing after jumping into the Fraser River on Sunday evening.
The body of Kory Nagata, an alumnus of Hugh Boyd Secondary and a recent graduate of UBC Sauder School of Business, was found shortly before noon on Monday – not far from where he had disappeared – after he had jumped into the river to retrieve a football near The Deck Kitchen and Bar.
“Witnesses said the man had retrieved the football, but was unable to return to the dock – disappearing from view as horrified onlookers rushed to his aid,” said Cpl. Ian Henderson with the Richmond RCMP.
“Upon seeing him struggling, two other males also jumped into the water. They were unable to rescue him – before pulling themselves to safety.”
Richmond RCMP said they received a call around 9:30 p.m. about a man having being swept away by a current near Pacific Gateway Hotel on Cessna Drive.
An “extensive search was conducted” by the Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, who searched the waters while Richmond Fire-Rescue and BC Emergency Health Services searched the shoreline.
The search for the 24-year-old was called off shortly before 1 a.m. due to the dark.
Emergency crew including the RCMP dive team, Air 1, Fraser Guardian patrol vessel, RCMP drone and ATVs resumed the search Monday morning during low-tide.
“The unpredictable nature of the Fraser River during the runoff season appears to have played a significant role in this tragic incident,” said Henderson, adding that hypothermia may also have been a factor.
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