Coquitlam Search and Rescue has suspended its search for Nicola Candeloro, a Coquitlam man who has been missing since July 3, until they have more leads on his location.
The 44-year-old left his Westwood Plateau home sometime between 10 and 11 a.m. last Thursday to go for a walk in the Eagle Mountain area, and was spotted later that afternoon near the playing fields.
SAR crews were called in on Friday to assist Coquitlam RCMP in the search, with three teams covering a large wilderness area on Eagle Mountain.
"We concentrated the search in high-probability areas," said SAR search manager Bob Hetherington. "We went to the southeast of the gas plant on the side of the hill... to the first access road and all the way back to the Coquitlam River, and we had another team coming up from the BC Hydro right-of-way."
Crews also searched a small wooded area northeast of Candeloro's home and, on Saturday, they also combed a large wooded area across the street from his house, including two high lookout points and a small river valley behind the home.
"From the information we got, he's quite a good walker, he's in very good shape and he knows the area quite well," Hetherington said, noting Candeloro often went walking with his dog. "Unfortunately, this time he went out by himself and didn't come back."
Hetherington said searchers are concerned Candeloro was not dressed well for the colder, rainy weather over the weekend and he may be suffering from hypothermia.
Although Coquitlam SAR suspended its search, Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said Mounties are still investigating and they're encouraging the public to call them with any information.
Candeloro is described as a 44-year-old Caucasian man with short, salt-and-pepper hair and brown eyes; he is about 5'11" tall and weighs 177 lb., and was last seen wearing a white tank top, grey shorts, white runners and, possibly, sunglasses.
Anyone with information is asked to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2014-18211.
