By Dominic Abassi

Crews search for man missing in bush near Ammonite Falls

Jan 28, 2017 | 10:55 PM

NANAIMO — Nanaimo RCMP say the search for Spencer Hunt continues. Search teams were in the bush until about 4 a.m. Sunday and then began again with daylight Sunday morning.

Anyone wanting to join in the search effort is asked to check-in at the command post near the Jameson Rd. trailhead. Volunteers are instructed to be prepared for the conditions.

EARLIER:

Members from four different mid-island search and rescue teams are in the bush trying to find a missing man in Nanaimo’s Jingle Pot area.

Nanaimo Search and Rescue search manager Allen Tonn said about 12 teams are out looking for a 20-year-old man in the Ammonite Falls area off Jameson Rd.

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“He was out hiking with about 7 to 10 of his family members today (Saturday), he got separated from the group when he went on ahead,” Tonn told NanaimoNewsNOW Saturday night outside the command post near the Jameson Rd. trailhead.

“They weren’t able to catch up, so they searched the area themselves, then they contacted 911.”

Tonn said the last time the man, identified by family online as Spencer Hunt, was seen was around 2 p.m. Saturday. He said SAR teams hit the trails around 6 p.m.

The man did not have significant knowledge of the area’s trail system and was reportedly wearing a red hoodie when he went missing.

“He was prepared to be out there for the weather we had this afternoon, sunny, relatively warm at about 11 degrees. I would imagine by this time he’s going to be a little on the cold side,” said Tonn.

The temperature at the command post was around 1 C and the ground was still frozen and fairly icy.

Tonn said the search efforts are focused on areas between trailheads on Jameson, Galloway Gulch, Biggs and Weigles Rd.

“We’ll be searching through the night. If we do go on in the morning, we’ll be bringing in other teams.”

Tonn insisted that anyone coming to join the search needs to check-in at the command post. He noted an incident already where a SAR team had to spend 30 minutes trying to make contact with someone trying to help.

Members from Arrowsmith, Ladysmith and Cowichan Valley have joined Nanaimo SAR, according to Tonn.

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien said if the man is found police will issue an update, otherwise there will be no further updates until the morning.

dabassi@islandradio.bc.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi