Manitoba RCMP commanding officer Jane MacLatchy said: "At this time, we are confident that these are the bodies of the two suspects wanted in connection with the homicides in British Columbia. "An autopsy is being scheduled in Winnipeg to confirm their identities and to determine their cause of death." The RCMP said on Twitter: "The search is over." Police said the bodies were found at approximately 10am local time in the dense brush near the shoreline of the Nelson River near Gillam.

The bodies were found within one kilometre of the spot where police found several items belonging to the suspects on Friday, a discovery that turned out to be a breakthrough moment in the fortnight-long manhunt. MacLatchy said there was a "certain amount of relief" about the discovery, even though the fugitives had not been found alive. "It's huge to be able to hopefully give some people an opportunity to exhale and to hopefully eventually go back to normal and not be afraid of who's out in the woods any more," she said. On Friday afternoon, Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers searching from a helicopter located a damaged aluminium boat on the shore of the Nelson River. Credit:Twitter

"To the families of everyone affected by the series of events over the last few weeks, I know it has been so very difficult and I hope today's announcement can begin to bring some closure." She thanked local residents for their patience during the manhunt, which has gripped Canada over recent weeks. "Your lives have been disrupted, many of you lived with uncertainty and fear, but throughout, you were resilient, you came together as communities and you helped our officers get the job done," she said. Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky have been found dead. She also thanked the officers involved in the search effort.

Loading "I commend you for your determination, for your innovation, for never giving up, and for working night and day to bring this search to a conclusion," she said. Describing the area where the suspects were found, MacLatchy said: "It's very very dense brush ... very thick, very difficult to work your way through. There are no trails." Police announced last week they were scaling down their search for the suspects because of a lack of leads. Locals said it would be difficult for the suspects to survive for longer than a week in the remote area because of the swampy terrain and huge number of insects.

Loading "If you don't know that area and you get lost in it, your chances of survival, I think, are pretty slim," Brian Kotak, the managing director of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, said last month. Schmegelsky's father, Alan, said last month that his son was on a "suicide mission". The distraught father said police "are going to shoot first and ask questions later". "Rest in peace, Bryer. I love you. I'm so sorry this all had to happen. I'm so sorry that I couldn't rescue you," he said on a video broadcast by CTV Vancouver.