Scoudouc River search for canoeist hit by bad weather

RCMP are battling bad weather as they searchfor a canoeist who flipped out of his boat and floated away on a New Brunswickriver Saturday.

Cst. Ren Blanchard said two men were paddlingon theScoudouc River. Ronald Savoie of Grande-Diguedisappeared at 2:30 p.m., RCMP said.

Apparently the two struck a tree and flipped. The friend got to shore.

Crews searched for him Saturday and suspended the search overnight. Searchers were due back out Sunday morning.Members of Southeast RCMP, Tri-County Ground Search and Rescue, and fire and ambulance crews are helping.

It is cold, windy and rainy, and the river is running very fast.

It was not clear if the man was participating in the Scoudouc River Run taking place on the river at the time.

It usually takes six hours to paddle the length of the river, but the strong current meant it took just three hours Saturday.

Savoie is six feet tall, weighs 180 pounds and was wearing a dark hoodie, jeans and rubber boots.