Rae-Edzo (May 22/06) - RCMP have stopped searching for a 26-year-old man who tipped in a canoe on the Marian River, 30 kms from Behchoko (Rae-Edzo) May 16.

The RCMP, an emergency rescue team, a helicopter and police dog were joined by members of the community in searching a 15 km stretch of shoreline as well as 10 km of river's bank and nine-square metres of open water on Marian Lake.

The search began Tuesday evening and ended 5 p.m. Friday as the search and rescue mission became a recovery operation.

Two Behchoko men were travelling upstream to meet a relative in a camp on Shoti Lake when they experienced icy conditions and bad weather, police said.

After breaking for the night, they continued the journey when strong currents tipped the four-metre long canvas canoe over. The incident happened around noon.

RCMP Sgt. Francis Cullen said the man who made it to shore tried to find the other without success.

Community members are still searching the area aided by RCMP boat patrols.

The family of the missing man has been contacted but names are not being released.