A man reported missing on the Fraser River near the Island 22 Regional Park in Chilliwack Sunday has been found deceased.
Chilliwack RCMP reported the tragic update on Wednesday (July 24) afternoon.
“The cause of his death is not considered suspicious. The RCMP offers its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” said RCMP Cpl. Carmen Kiener.
Friends had been waiting and searching since he didn’t come home.
“His vehicle was found on the dirt road leading into Island 22,” said friend Mary Trafford.
She said Alarie was found in the water near Mission.
The family is “devastated” since Alarie is the sole caregiver for his elderly mother, she said, adding that he had been very kind to her.
It’s hard on the family as his brother died last year, and his step-father the year before.
His dog, Delilah a female Rottweiler cross, is being taken care of by friends.
RCMP had been concerned for Donald Alarie’s health and well-being since it was out of character for him to be out of contact with family.
Donald (Donny) Alarie, 57, had not been seen since he headed to the river Saturday evening with his small boat.
A search was undertaken by volunteers, and RCMP on Sunday morning. The search was continued by friends of the family Monday, on water and on land, to no avail.
At this point Trafford says the working theory is that something happened as Alarie was loading the boat. He might have fallen in the water, or fallen into the boat, since they found items like his cigarettes on the seat of his car, and gas can left behind. But the boat, a blue fibreglass boat, has not turned up either. They will never know for sure.
