Police recover body of 68-year old missing canoeist on Saint John River

The canoe belonging to a 68-year-old Saint John, N.B., man who's body was recovered by the Canadian Coast Guard after he went missing, is pictured on the beach. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic)

The Canadian Coast Guard has recovered the body of a 68-year-old Saint John man after he did not return home from a canoe trip on the Saint John River near Long Reach, N.B., Monday.

Police were called to assist in the search for the missing canoeist just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, said RCMP Sergeant Ben Comley. Multiple agencies including the Joint Rescue Coordinator Centre (JRCC), various fire departments and Saint John Police forensics aided in the search, Comley told CTV.

“At approximately 9 a.m. we did locate the deceased’s vehicle in a location in Long Reach which is on the Kingston Peninsula,” said Comley. “The cause of death will be pending investigation in the coroner’s determination.”

The canoeist was first reported “missing and overdue” sometime Monday evening, Comley said.

While the cause of death is not being released at this time, Comley said there is no suspicion of foul play.

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