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Exhaustive search along Highway 19 ends tragically

Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue's annual Christmas party was interrupted by a call to assist in the search for a missing 81-year-old.

Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue's annual Christmas party was interrupted by a call to assist in the search for missing 81-year-old William Fisher of Port Hardy.

He was reported missing to SAR on Saturday evening after failing to return to his home in Port Hardy after a medical appointment in Campbell River two days earlier. Fisher had been a resident of Port Hardy for 40 years, having travelled this route numerous times.

Some 30 members of CVGSAR alone devoted more than 600 hours over Sunday, Monday and Tuesday morning in the search.

SAR teams from Campbell River, Parksville, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Tofino and the Comox Valley combined efforts to walk the distance of Highway 19A from Campbell River to Port Hardy twice, scouring every ditch, embankment, gully and body of water in between.

Volunteer search teams were supported by search aircraft from the Provincial Emergency Program and by an RCMP helicopter. RCMP units form Campbell River, Sayward and Port Hardy searched logging roads through the search, all with no success.

Sadly, Fisher's body was was discovered in his overturned car by passing motorists early Tuesday morning on Highway 30 near Port Alice, well off his expected route of travel and well outside of the search area.

Members of CVGSAR extend their heartfelt wishes to Mr. Fisher's family and friends.

— Comox Valley Ground Search and Rescue