Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Sep 09/05) - An Inuvik teenager about to begin college in Fort Smith is presumed drowned after falling into the notoriously dangerous Slave River, Monday.

According to the RCMP, Ian Joel Rogers, 19, slipped off a rocky outcrop just below the Rapids of the Drowned.

"He was out there walking and he apparently slipped into the river," said RCMP Sgt. Craig Seafoot on Tuesday.

Two friends were with Rogers at the time. Seafoot said one jumped into the water to try to save him.

Seafoot said the friend realized his clothes were dragging him down into the water so he got back onto shore, but after removing his clothes and re-entering the water, he was unable to reach Rogers because of the strong current below the rapids.

"The missing person resurfaced and started to dog paddle, but he was paddling into the river," the sergeant said, speculating that the victim may have become disoriented.

His friends shouted to him, but he apparently couldn't hear because of the noise from the rapids, Seafoot said. "It's pretty noisy when you get up there. It's just a loud roar."

Rogers disappeared under the water again, re-surfaced and went under for the final time, Seafoot said. "That was the last he was seen."

The RCMP received a call about the accident at approximately 5:15 p.m., Sept. 5.

Seafoot said two search boats were in the water within 40 minutes. Volunteers and an airplane joined the search, which continued until dark.

The next day, 12 boats scoured the river, and a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft looked from the air. About 50 volunteers were involved, including staff from Parks Canada and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Some searchers concentrated their efforts just below the rapids, including dragging the river. Others checked islands and sandbars further downstream.

On Tuesday morning, the police were still describing the effort to find Rogers as a search and rescue, but that changed to a search and recovery by the afternoon.

"The hopes are very slim of finding him alive," Seafoot said.

On Tuesday, one of the volunteer searchers, retired teacher Bob Langevin, said there is always some hope. "But as time passes, it looks dimmer and dimmer."

Police and volunteers were still searching for Rogers on Wednesday.

Going to college

Rogers, who had celebrated his birthday on Aug. 31, was about to start a technology program at Aurora College the day after he fell into the river.

People shocked

"There's a lot of people shocked by what happened," said Tim Gauthier, the manager of public and corporate affairs with the college.

"Right now, we're concentrating on helping his friends and fellow students through this tragedy," Gauthier added.

He said they will be offering counselling to students.

The RCMP barely escaped tragedy themselves when one of their jet boats sank while out searching Tuesday afternoon.

The two men on board -- an RCMP member and an auxiliary constable -- were rescued by another search vessel.

"They were wearing their flotation devices, which saved them," Seafoot said.