New Brunswick RCMP searching for missing 64-year-old ice sailor on Shediac Bay

GRANDE-DIGUE, N.B. – RCMP in New Brunswick continued the search Thursday for a 64-year-old man who was last seen the prior day ice sailing on Shediac Bay.

Shediac RCMP issued a statement saying the last known whereabouts of Daniel Robichaud was at the end of Martin Road where it meets the bay in Grand-Digue, N.B., Robichaud’s hometown.

Police released a photo of the man’s ice sailing craft, which has a large, multicoloured windsurfing sail attached to a small wooden platform affixed to a pair of what appear to be downhill skis.

On Wednesday night at 6:20 p.m., the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax dispatched a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter to the scene. That aircraft was replaced by an RCMP helicopter on Thursday.

Robichaud is described as five feet eight inches tall, 165 pounds, with grey hair, brown eyes and a trimmed grey beard.

He was last seen wearing an orange winter jacket, black snow pants, as well as protective equipment including white hockey shin pads, shoulder pads and a black hockey helmet.

Ground search and rescue teams have been joined by members of the Cocagne Fire Department and RCMP Air Services.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2024.