The search for the missing father and son north of Pemberton has ended in tragedy.
In a joint release from the Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police and Pemberton RCMP, it was announced Oct. 30 that Peter Oleski, 48, and River Leo, 21, were found deceased.
On Oct. 29, at approximately 2 p.m. a Lil'wat Nation volunteer search group found the body of Oleski and contacted police and Pemberton SAR. The search team then found Leo.
The father and son had been out mushroom picking, but were reported missing on Oct. 22, after they didn't return home.
On Oct. 23, Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police asked Pemberton RCMP to assist in the search for the two men who had been in the Upper Mackenzie Basin.
"In the following days Lil'wat Nation, volunteers, friends, Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police, Pemberton RCMP, dozens of SAR teams from all over the province, commercial air services, and Comox 442 Squadron Cormorant attended to the area for an extensive planned search with no success in locating Peter Oleski and River Leo," the joint release states.
The Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police and Pemberton RCMP will now work with the BC Coroners Service on their coinciding investigations.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Peter and River and with the Lil'wat Nation," said Sgt. Sascha Banks of the Squamish RCMP. "The determination of the Lil'wat community and the search and rescue teams was inspiring to all those who participated in the search. Although this is not the ending we had all hoped for. I am thankful they were located, as this is not always the case with those that go missing in our backcountry."
