Investigators from the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) have concluded their investigation into the drowning death of a 50 year old Saanich man that was pulled from the water of the Gorge waterway on February 26, 2014.
Investigators have concluded that there does not appear to be anything suspicious about the events leading up to the man falling into the waterway. Despite efforts to revive the man after he was pulled from the waterway, he did not survive.
“This was a difficult investigation from the outset” said Saanich Police Sgt. Steve Eassie. “The biggest questions that day, and in the days following, were who was with the victim at the time of this incident, what were they doing at the time of the incident, and what did they do following the incident.”
“The tasks of following up with possible witnesses was hampered by an apparent reluctance of individuals who had witnessed anything to come forward” Eassie said. “Investigators had to take limited information on who may have been with the victim, locate potential witnesses, and then determine whether those people had anything of value to offer”.
After completing their investigation, the investigators from VIIMCU were satisfied that there was no apparent foul play. The police investigation is now concluded and the BC Coroners service will assume conduct of this investigation.
The identity of the 50 year old victim will not be released at this time. This information may be made available by the BC Coroner’s service in the future at the conclusion of their investigation.
File 2014-3691
Sgt. Steve Eassie #158