Kitimat Search and Rescue found a 51-year-old male on the Kitimat River shore after it was reported to them that the person had gone missing early on June 20.
The man was seen leaving by a canoe from the orange bridge over the Kitimat River on Tuesday afternoon.
Four teams, a helicopter team, two river teams assisted by Kitimat Hatchery employees and the Terrace Swift Water Rescue Team, were called to assist.
The helicopter found the man at around 4:45 a.m. the same morning on the Kitimat River just north of the air park. Search and Rescue (SAR) report that the man's canoe had hit debris in the river and capsized on Tuesday. The man was submerged and hung up on a branch before freeing himself and making his way to shore where he spent the night.
The man credits his life jacket for saving his life, he told SAR.
He was taken to Kitimat General for treatment of some injuries and kept for observation.
Kitimat SAR is thankful to Terrace's Swift Water Team, the Kitimat Hatchery employees who helped out, and to Quantum Helicopters.
SAR has provided a checklist of ways to be safe on the river in light of this incident.
1) Provide a pre-trip plan with someone dependable, which indicates where you are going and when you should expect to return.
2) Only travel in waters ou are familiar with.
3) Always wear a personal floatation device.
4) Be prepared for the unexpected.