Bodies found on Coal Lake, missing men identified

Wetaskiwin RCMP issued a news statement Monday, May 28 stating that the bodies of the two missing boaters were recovered from the waters of Coal Lake that morning.

The report said that both were recovered within the original search area, the southwest area of the lake. 

At this time it is still not known what caused the tragic event. It has been confirmed that neither of the boaters were wearing life jackets.

Police have made positive identifications of the two men:

Dallas Simons, 26, of Strome, and Everett Westerneng, 19 years of age, from Camrose.

RCMP say that family and friends of the boaters were on hand to receive the news and were relieved, yet grief stricken.

The families are asking for the respect of their privacy in order to grieve.

Leslie Cholowsky
Editor