Okanagan RCMP identify kayaker who drowned on Kalamalka Lake Monday night

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP have identified a kayaker who went missing on Okanagan Lake earlier this week.

Mounties have also confirmed that Eli Buruca, 26, is presumed to have drowned after a strong windstorm swept through the valley on Monday.

Officers received a report of a missing kayaker on Kalamalka Lake at about 11 pm.

The search and rescue team and RCMP arrived in the area a short while later to begin searching the lake.

Unfortunately, the young man was not located and there is no indication that he made it back to the shore.

Cst. Christ Terleski with the Vernon RCMp says an extensive search involving boats, a drone and divers, has been ongoing since the incident, without success.

As of Thursday, the search has been scaled back but Vernon Search and Rescue will conduct searches on the lake at various times over the next couple days, a release says.

“The family has been involved from the outset and this sombre reality has been discussed with them,” Cst. Terleski writes in the release.

“This remains a missing person investigation which will continue until the person is found. At the outset, we’re always hopeful for a favourable outcome and despite the best efforts of everyone involved, their loved one is still missing and our hearts go out to them.”