UPDATE: On April 24, the Sidney/North Saanich Royal Canadian Mounted Police updated the public that the two men who went missing while kayaking between Island View Beach and the Gulf Islands on April 20, have been found deceased.

“American authorities have recovered the bodies of two deceased individuals off of San Juan Island and the San Juan County Coroners service later confirmed the deceased to be Daniel MacAlpine and Nicolas West,” stated an RCMP news alert.

“Sidney/North Saanich RCMP would like to thank all the agencies that were involved in this search and subsequent recovery efforts. Our thoughts are with the families at this time,” said Staff Sergeant Wayne Conley of the Sidney/North Saanich RCMP.

Two kayakers, Daniel MacAlpine, age 36, and Nicolas West, age 26, were last known to be kayaking from D’Arcy Island to Island View each at 2:15 p.m. April 20, according to an alert by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Their kayak, described as a teal blue fiberglass, two-person vessel was discovered off the southwest corner of Henry Island, approximately three miles from D’Arcy.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Canadian Coast Guard early April 21, according to a press release by the Sheriff’s Office, notifying them that the Canadian Coast Guard was conducting a search for two missing Canadian kayakers.

The press release added that around 11:30 a.m. the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office was informed that the Canadian Coast Guard had located the kayak on the southwest corner of Henry Island but had not yet located the kayakers.

The Canadian Coast Guard asked if it would be possible for the Sheriff’s Office to assist by sending a boat out to Henry Island area to help with the search.

The Sheriff’s Office sent a Sergeant and two deputies on their boat, along with a drone to search the area requested.

At 8 p.m. April 21, the Sheriff’s Office updated their statement, saying “Personnel from the San Juan County Sheriff’s office, used the sheriff’s boat and drone to search the areas along the west side of Henry island around to the southside in open bay where the kayak was recovered.” The drone was deployed and searched around Stuart Island, the statement continued and searched around Speiden Island as well but were unable to locate any signs of the missing kayakers. “Canadian authorities were contacted and updated with the results of our efforts to search for the missing kayakers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the kayakers and their families, and are hopeful that they are located and found,” Sheriff Eric Peter said.