Missing Vernon man’s remains found in Okanagan Lake

A Vernon resident was kayaking on the north end of Okanagan Lake today when RCMP say they discovered human remains floating offshore.

The RCMP Southeast District Underwater Recovery Team attended to the area and retrieved the body of a man in his 70s, according to an RCMP media release.

The body has since been identified as the remains of 73-year-old Wayne Orser, who had been reported as a missing person to the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, June 30.

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Tania Finn said Orser’s family has been notified.

"There is no evidence of criminality being involved in Mr. Orser’s death at this time," Finn said in the release.

The B.C. Coroners Service is also conducting an independent and concurrent fact finding investigation to determine how, where, when and by what means he came to his unexpected death. Neither agency has more information to release at this time.


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Kathy Michaels

Kathy Michaels has been an Okanagan-based journalist for more than a decade, working for community papers along the valley and beyond.
She’s won provincial and national awards in business, news and feature writing and says that her love for telling a good story rivals only her fondness for turning a good phrase.
If you have a story that deserves to be told in a thoughtful and compassionate manner, don’t hesitate to reach out.
To reach Kathy call 250-718-0428 or email kmichaels@infonews.ca.