Skip to content

No foul play suspected in Alberni harbour death

Port Alberni RCMP have ruled out foul play in the death of a man whose body was found floating in Alberni's Fishermen's Harbour on Wednesday

Port Alberni RCMP and the B.C. Coroner’s office are investigating the death of a man who was found floating in the water at Fisherman’s Harbour early Wednesday morning.

According to an RCMP press release, emergency personnel responded to the scene after a passerby discovered the body near a boat at the dock at 5:30 a.m.

Police and B.C. Ambulance Service personnel reported that they had attended the deceased’s boat at approximately 10 p.m. on Tuesday night to assist the man, who was experiencing medical difficulties.  The victim refused medical attention and remained on his boat, the release said.

Authorities are treating the death as sudden and no foul play is suspected.

The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Port Alberni ambulance unit chief Bruce Patterson said people have the right to refuse treatment and transportation, then referred further questions to the B.C. Ambulance communications division.

Spokesperson  Moira King said that B.C. Ambulance didn’t treat or transport anyone so there’s no information to reveal.

Sources have told the News that the man lived quietly on his boat at the dock.

Port Alberni Port Authority spokesperson Mike Carter wouldn’t confirm if the man lived on his boat.

“It’s still in the hands of the police and coroner so I can’t comment,” Carter said.

Carter did confirm though that PAPA policies allow for up to 11 people to live aboard their boats at PAPA facilities.

Other people are transients “who spend a few months here and a few months there,” Carter said.

reporter@albernivalleynews.com