38-year-old man missing after fishing trip on British Columbia’s central coast

Hundreds of people on the central coast of British Columbia are looking for a 38-year-old man who was last seen nine days ago.

According to the family, Heiltsuk member David Gordon Campbell was last seen September 17 in Bella Bella, about 470 kilometers northwest of Vancouver.

His aunt, Joann Green, says Campbell told his family he was going fishing, but did not come home. His boat was found with its engine still running on a nearby beach, sparking a search that involved more than 300 people from Bella Bella and nearby communities.

RCMP say dive teams have been involved in the search, as well as land, sea and air searches that have so far been unsuccessful.

The Canadian Coast Guard confirms having dispatched five ships to search for Campbell but suspended the operation on September 18 around 1 p.m.

Green says Campbell was last seen wearing a dark gray muscle shirt and a pair of camouflage shorts and has tattoos on his arms and neck.

“We really feel the heaviness”

Green says Campbell is a father and a grandfather, and his disappearance has affected not just his family, but the wider Heiltsuk community.

« You really feel the heaviness in the communities, » she said. « It’s really hard on his parents and siblings. »

She said the amount of support given to help with search efforts or to donate property to those involved was encouraging.

« [I’m] really upset and really amazed at what our community is doing to try to find David, » Green said.