The search for a 15-year-old fisherman who fell overboard Monday morning in northeastern New Brunswick was suspended at nightfall and handed over to the RCMP as a missing persons’ case.
RCMP confirmed that a distress call went out at 9:45 a.m., after Justin Landry fell off a fishing vessel several kilometres off of the Pointe-Sapin wharf.
The community is about an hour-and-a-half away from Moncton.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax, which led the search efforts, tasked a Cormorant helicopter, three Canadian Coast Guard vessels and a Transport Canada aircraft as part of the operation.
As well, more than 20 local boats went out into the water for the hours-long search.
At around 8 p.m. JRCC suspended their search and New Brunswick RCMP assumed the lead role in the investigation.
“Specialized policing services are assisting, including the RCMP Helicopter and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team,” RCMP said in a Tuesday update.
Police said they remain in contact with Landry’s family during the investigation.
The teen was last seen wearing a blue sweater, green rubber pants and green rubber boots. Anyone with information that could help find Landry is asked to call the Richibucto RCMP detachment at 506-523-4611.