The two Langley teens missing at Nicola Lake, near Merritt, are now presumed drowned, confirm Merritt RCMP.
Family, friends, students at Langley Secondary (their high school), and the hockey community the boys were involved in are supporting each other and holding out hope for these much-loved boys.
Through social media and other contacts, the boys have been identified as Austin Kingsborough, 17, and Brendan D. Wilson, 18.
A Twitter hashtag #prayfortheboys has been created with many people posting words of hope and prayers for these friends. A large banner has been put up at LSS saying Pray for the Boys, along with the teen’s initials.
RCMP divers continued their search for the missing teens’ bodies on Wednesday morning after two days of intense searching on shore and in the water.
The teens, aged 17 and 18, were visiting a family property at the lake and were reported missing by family after they didn’t return for supper on Sunday evening. A RCMP helicopter found a overturned canoe in the lake at dawn on Monday morning.
Several articles of clothing and equipment were recovered from the lake and identified by family as having belonged to the teens. Due to poor visibility and debris in the lake, the search was suspended Monday evening and continued on Tuesday.
The RCMP helicopter also continued the search on Tuesday morning with sonar equipment.
RCMP divers were back in the lake on Wednesday morning, but searchers had not recovered either of the teens’ bodies.
Nicola Lake is a glacially formed, narrow, deep lake.
A resident in the area told media that winds on the lake pick up around noon and when the boys went out on Sunday, waves could be seen to be three feet high.
Both boys played with the Langley Minor Hockey Association.
While the boys have been named through social media, neither the police nor the Langley school district are confirming their identities at this time.
“As per request by the family, the RCMP is not releasing names of the boys at this time. Merritt RCMP Victims Assistance Services continue to work with the family and friends on scene,” said a press release from Merritt RCMP.