Authorities may know the identity of the body pulled from Francois Lake over the weekend. According to sources close to the ongoing search, efforts are now underway to contact next of kin. The identity of this mystery victim of the lake will not be disclosed until the proper notifications have been made, said authorities, who confirmed the deceased person was a male and had been on the lake's floor for a prolonged amount of time.
The search continues because the male brought to the surface by a robotic submersible vehicle on the weekend was not the person they thought it was. Syd Neville, 35, missing since a June 7 fishing trip incident, is still somewhere in the lake.
"Poor Mr. Neville is back to being a missing person, over which we have no jurisdiction," said B.C. Coroners Service spokeswoman Barb McLintock. "We have no responsibilty to hunt for missing persons, nor do we want that considering the resources that would be taken up thereby. And our recommendations are to prevent future deaths, and finding someone in water does not advance that."
Calling the situation of finding a body other than the intended target of the search "truly bizarre," McLintock said they would wait like everyone else, Neville's family most of all, to know if the searchers - sonar specialists Gene and Sandy Ralston - could spot another figure in the depths of the huge lake west of Prince George.
"It's only the second time that's happened to us," said Gene Ralston. He and his wife volunteer much of the time and equipment each year to look for dozens of missing persons in bodies of water of all kinds, from coast to coast in Canada and the United States.
Ralston said they would stay on their mission at Francois until Friday, but then had to leave for prearranged medical appointments in the United States. Should Neville remain undiscovered by then, said Ralston, their return was possible.
The couple, and their support helpers from Neville's friends and family, got chased off Francois Lake by high winds and heavy waves on Tuesday afternoon, but they were out for an all-day attempt again on Wednesday.
