Family continues search for missing Lytton fisherman in belief he may still be alive
'He has a lot of knowledge about living on this river. He would know what to eat and where to get water'
The family of missing Lytton, B.C., fisherman Duane Alvin Aleck believe there's a chance he may still be alive.
Aleck went missing more than a week ago while fishing on the Fraser River. It is believed he was swept away.
"In my heart I hope he got in a back eddy... and made it to shore," said niece Erin Aleck.
"He's a smart man and he has a lot of knowledge about living on this river. He would know what to eat and where to get water."
Aleck says her uncle went to check his nets around 5 p.m. PT on June 18.
Around 9:30 p.m. that same night a witness called the RCMP after seeing a man in an orange life ring floating in the river near the Siska Reserve, about 10 kilometres downstream.
The family of Duane Alvin Aleck is devastated at his disappearance and are gathering for a search using members of their family. Mr. Aleck was last seen near the Siska Reserve, with an orange safety floatation device around his upper body, on the Fraser River in Lytton. <a href="https://t.co/s2cov2ycR9">pic.twitter.com/s2cov2ycR9</a>
—@AngelaSterrittFriends found Aleck's boots and pants on shore at his fishing spot below the Kumsheen Secondary School in Lytton and police subsequently found a witness who saw Aleck intentionally go into the river with the orange life ring, possibly to untangle a net.
A police helicopter scanned the area the next day but found nothing.
On June 25, the RCMP released a statement saying Aleck was missing and presumed drowned.
Drone search
But four members of his family are continuing the search, holding onto the slim hope Aleck will still be found alive.
A few days ago they brought in a drone operator to help look in some of the less accessible areas of the river, without any luck.
Erin Aleck says the family is asking a DFO patrol boat that's scheduled to be in the area on Friday to help in the search.
"We've been going along the river, down the tracks and fishing trails, looking with binoculars. Anything that we can find, hopefully [DFO] can check it," she said.
"We're trying to do our best to get to back eddies and places we know in the past where people have shown up."