Friends and family of a missing 23-year-old man are appealing to the public for help in locating him.
On July 5, Alex Brown was last seen by a friend jumping into the St. Mary’s River about 15 km upstream from Marysville near Kimberley. Alex surfaced after jumping in, but then disappeared from sight.
Kimberley RCMP and Search and Rescue teams have been looking for any clues as to Alex’s whereabouts. More than 50 volunteers from teams from Kimberley, Cranbrook, Sparwood, Fernie, Golden, Columbia Valley, Revelstoke and Penticton have assisted in the search. A helicopter has also been used and a fixed wing aircraft covered the length of the river from Koocanusa to St Marys Lake.
An extensive search was executed in the area around the river for close to a week but now Kimberly RCMP Cpl. Chris Newel says they have scaled back the physical search but have not given up.
So far Newel says there have been no clues to indicate where Alex may be at this point.
For Alex’s parents, Betty-Lou and Rob, they are holding out hope their son is still alive.
“We’re hoping that he’s maybe lost and confused,” an emotional Rob told Global News. “… and we’re praying that he’s still alive and with us and that somebody comes across him and brings him back to us.”
Although the river is cold and fast, Rob and Betty-Lou say the stretch of river their son jumped in was swimmable.
Officials are continuing to search the river and are hoping changes in the flow of the water may assist in the search.
Alex is described as 5’5’’, 130 pounds with shoulder length blonde hair and a moustache. He was wearing brown shorts at the time he disappeared.
If anyone has any information they are asked to call Kimberley RCMP.
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