A late-night dip in the Pitt River turned tragic last weekend when a 50-year-old New Westminster man went missing and is presumed drowned.
Coquitlam RCMP say a group on a boat anchored in the middle of the Pitt River near the Gillnetter Pub in Port Coquitlam and went for a swim about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. Corp. Michael McLaughlin said a man was quickly separated from the rest of the party by the current and quickly got in trouble.
Police say a 50-year-old New Westminster man is believed drowned after going swimming in the Pitt River early in the morning of Aug. 19. A gofundme page has been set up for the family of Jamie Hillier pictured here. Photograph By GOFUNDME.COM/FINDING-JAMIE-HILLIER
McLaughlin said an exhaustive search in the water and on shore, including the use of a helicopter, failed to find him. The search was called off, but the investigation will stay open until the body is found.
Alcohol is suspected to be a factor but nothing points to it being foul play, said McLaughlin.
While RCMP would not identify the victim, a gofundme page has been set up for the family of Jamie Hillier.
The page (gofundme.com/finding-jamie-hillier) describes the incident as "a brief dip into the river became a life-threatening fight against the current where Jamie was pulled away from his boat and was last witnessed struggling against the water while his friends and wife attempted to reach him."
The page said his family and friends are still trying to locate Hillier to bring closure and the fund will be used to support the family, the recovery costs and "other indeterminate incidentals." According to the website, more than $10,000 of a goal of $25,000 had been raised from 60 donations.
McLaughlin said the incident shows how powerful the current is in the Pitt and Fraser rivers. The current, he said, looks turbulent as it is on the surface, but it is even stronger below it.
"It is absolutely not to be taken lightly," said McLaughlin. "It is a deep and fast-moving river at that point.
"It is not advisable to swim in the river unless you are a professional under supervision. Certainly at 1:30 in the morning with alcohol involved it is inadvisable.
"It's called the Mighty Fraser for a reason and that portion of Pitt River is not to be trifled with."
