Human remains were found in the Tofino area on July 18, 2018. Photo Credit: Google Maps.
The BC Coroners Service is investigating after human remains were found in the waters off Tofino on Wednesday.
According to the BC Coroners Service, officials are working on confirming the identity of the remains with DNA and dental testing.
Andy Watson, a spokesman for the BC Coroners Service, said it’s too early to say whether the remains belong to one of the three Tla-o-qui-aht fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized off Tofino near Duffin Cove on June 15. He did not say exactly where the remains were found.
“We are early stages of an investigation of unidentified human remains,” Watson said.
A family member who wished to remain anonymous did confirm that the remains were found near Echachist Island, a few kilometres away from where the vessel capsized. The island is south of Wickaninnish Island and is on Tla-o-qui-aht traditional territory.
Five people were on board at the time of the capsizing last month. One man was able to swim to shore and another was rescued by a Canadian Coast Guard vessel.
Family confirmed to CHEK News last month it was Marcel Martin, Carl Michael and Terrance Brown Jr. who went missing. A GoFundMe has been set up for the missing men’s families and has raised close to $40,000 of the $90,000 goal.
The fishermen’s vessel was recovered the week after the capsizing but the three fishermen are still unaccounted for.
No further information was immediately available.
Alexa Huffman
