Father, son found dead after weeklong search near Pemberton
Peter Oleski and son River Leo set out to pick mushrooms on Thursday and did not return
A seven-day search for two mushroom pickers in British Columbia has ended with both found dead.
RCMP Sgt. Sascha Banks says the body of 48-year-old Peter Oleski was found Thursday by a volunteer search group from the Lil'wat Nation.
Search and rescue teams found the body of 21-year-old River Leo a short time later.
The father and son had set out for a day of mushroom picking last Thursday in the mountains overlooking the community of Pemberton, B.C., 150 kilometres north of Vancouver.
Members of the Lil'wat Nation, Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police, RCMP, Comox 442 Squadron and dozens of search teams from around B.C. helped with the extensive search.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Peter and River and with the Lil'wat Nation," Banks said. "The determination of the Lil'wat community and the search and rescue teams was inspiring to all those who participated in the search.
"Although this is not the ending we had all hoped for I am thankful they were located, as this is not always the case with those that go missing in our backcountry."
Banks says the Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police and Pemberton RCMP will work with the BC Coroners Service to investigate the deaths.