An octogenarian was found on Friday aboard his crashed plane in the Ouasiemsca River area northwest of Lac-Saint-Jean after an intensive aerial search that required the help of the Canadian Army.
Posted at 4:26pm
The man was reported missing by his family around 4 p.m. Thursday. He had left by plane to reach his air-only camp in the Girardville sector at Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. Then he gave no further news.
The air searches were conducted overnight from Thursday to Friday by police officers from the Chapais station in Chibougamau, supported by the Canadian Army, said Marc Tessier, spokesman for the Surete du Québec.
A plane was spotted on the ground around 4 a.m. near the octogenarian’s camp. “On the other hand, because of the darkness, the weather conditions and the lack of fuel, they couldn’t check immediately,” explains Mr. Tessier.
Rescue teams returned there around 11 a.m. on Friday. “They saw the plane crash and found a lifeless body inside,” reports Mr. Tessier. The death was not immediately confirmed by a doctor and the man was transported to a hospital. »
An investigation has been launched and if necessary, the Sûreté du Québec will remain in contact with the coroner for the remainder of the proceedings, Mr Tessier says. “The investigation will decide whether or not an autopsy needs to be performed eventually,” he says.