Man believed to be swept away by the Columbia River: police

Castlegar, B.C., and the Columbia River are seen in this undated image. (Shutterstock)

Mounties in Castlegar, B.C., say they’re searching for a man who may have been “swept away” by the Columbia River.

Police say they were called on Sunday night at around 9:30 p.m. with reports of a “lone man in distress” in the river, which flows through Castlegar.

“Witnesses reported seeing the man being carried downstream by the current,” the Castlegar RCMP said in a release.

A search is actively being conducted by Castlegar Search and Rescue, South Columbia Search and Rescue, and local fire departments, using boats and drones, according to police.

Police say a backpack they believe belongs to the man was found along the shoreline. Mounties say they have “tentatively identified” the man, but won’t confirm his identity until he’s found.

“While we remain hopeful that he may be found safely, there is an unfortunately high likelihood that he has drowned,” said Sgt. Monty Taylor.

The Columbia River is the largest in the Pacific Northwest and “stretches 2,000 kilometres” from its headwaters in B.C. to parts of the United States and the Pacific Ocean, according to Paddle BC.

Police have asked anyone with any information on the matter to call the Castlegar RCMP at 250-365-7721.