* Update 11/13/24 9:14 am
Melissa Morgan is involved in the search and has been providing upates via social media. On Tuesday, November 12th at 6:55 pm, this update was posted:
Gitanyow Lake Update
"Ground & boat search has come to an end for the day
All searchers that were out on the ground have been accounted for and are safe
Ground searching will begin again tomorrow morning at 8:00am
There will be a thermal drone on site tomorrow, we are waiting for confirmation if the RCMP and SARS will be present tomorrow
If you are coming with a drone tomorrow you must check in with the base camp before flying
We will have people on site overnight … if anyone is able or willing you are welcome
The amount of volunteers and support has been truly amazing we welcome more tomorrow!
Anyone wanting to donate items, firewood, food, clothing, fuel, etc … everything is welcomed and appreciated!
Reminder for those that come to base camp, it is very important that you check in with the main camp workers. We are doing our absolute best to track the 100s of people that have been coming
Please continue to keep Aidens family, the searchers, the volunteers and most important Aidan in your prayers."
Yesterday afternoon - two days after Waddle was reported missing, RCMP put out a release (2024-11-12 13:52 PST File # 2024-3564) with a desription of Waddle:
Aiden Timothy Waddle is described as:
Caucasian male
21 years old
175 cm
84 kg
Brown hair
Hazel eyes
RCMP also added: "While we appreciate that the public would like to help search for Aiden, we ask that you contact SAR or the RCMP before engaging in any search efforts."
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RCMP have confirmed reports of a missing person and search underway at Kitwancool Lake, about 14km north of Gitanyow and 33km north of Kitwanga.
Cpl. Madonnna Saunderson confirmed that New Hazelton RCMP recieved a report of a missing person on November 10th, 2024. It was reported that an adult man has gone kayaking alone on Kitwancool Lake and had not returned.
RCMP, Search and Rescue, and Volunteers have been searching for the missing man.
Reports on social media identify the missing man as 21-year old Aiden Waddle. Family writes that they believe he was kayking on the lake and may have gotten out to hunt.
Some updates from involved searchers are posed on Facebook (Kitwanga and area page), some requesting assistance, and boats to help search - and there are also reports of people searching on foot and in waders, and heading out with boats to the scene.
In a comment on Facebook posed at 5:45 pm on November 11th, Tahlia Rempel, referenced as Waddle's sister wrote a thank you to those who have responded:
"Thank you to everyone who has been searching non stop and making food, our family is so grateful. There are amazing volunteers who are staying out to search tonight. My family is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support have received this community is truly a blessing and we thank you for continuing to help us find our brother!"
There is reportedly no WIFI or cell service at the lake. Others involved in the search have posted on Facebook that anyone going out to help should dress warm and for bushwacking. It is written that if anyone has handheld radios they are using Lad 1.