On Friday, at 11:15 p.m., two members of the Yukon RCMP found Const. Michael Potvin’s body in the Stewart River.
The police officers were approximately 50 kilometres downstream from where Potvin was last seen, near the Mayo boat launch, when they located his
body.
On Sunday, Potvin’s body was transported to Whitehorse and then on to Vancouver.
Because Potvin died in a work-related incident, an autopsy will be conducted later this week.
“We are relieved to be able to bring some closure to this sad and tragic event not only for the family and loved ones of Const. Potvin but for all the
searchers, volunteers and the extended RCMP family,” said the chief superintendent of the M Division Peter Clark in a release.
Potvin drowned in the Stewart River on July 13th after the boat he was in capsized.
Neither Potvin, nor the officer trained to operate the boat were wearing life jackets.
The officers had just taken the boat out of winter storage and were burning off old gas when the incident happened.
The officer driving the boat clung to the craft, but Potvin attempted to swim to shore.
He was just a few feet from land when witnesses saw him suddenly disappeared underwater.
The community, RCMP, conservation officers and pilots helped search for Potvin, who’d only been with the force for a year.
The memorial service planned for Potvin will proceed as scheduled in Ottawa on August 4 at Saint Patrick’s Basilica, beginning at 9:30
a.m.
It is taking place on what would have been Potvin’s 27th birthday.
Potvin’s wife is pregnant with their first child, a son, who is expected mid-September.