Missing B.C. boater presumed dead

Police believe a boater who went missing near Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island, on Saturday likely drowned.

Ronald Compton, 69, of Chemainus, B.C., went missing just northeast of China Creek Marina on Saturday morning.

Officials received a 911 call at about 11 a.m. PT reporting an unoccupied boat had been found running and in neutral with no sign of the operator.

Rescue crews searched the area for the missing boater for several hours, but eventually called off the search.

Police said Compton likely drowned.

"Given the distance from shore that the boat was found and the water temperature of the inlet, it would make survival difficult and unlikely, especially if an individual was not wearing an approved personal flotation device," said RCMP Sgt. Kevin Murray.