University RCMP and the RCMP’s Major Crime unit are investigating after a body was found in the water near Wreck Beach.

The body was discovered around 3 p.m. yesterday, after a passing boat operator reported the sighting to the Canadian Coast Guard. The Vancouver Police Marine unit then assisted the Coast Guard with the retrieval of the body, which was brought to Vanier Park Beach. There, it was received by University RCMP and the BC Coroners service.

The identity of the deceased and the cause of death have still not been confirmed.

Dawn Roberts, BC RCMP director in charge of communications, said the RCMP’s Major Crimes unit has been assigned in to assist University RCMP with determining the cause of death.

“Majors Crimes has the expertise to help us assess the preliminary information to determine if we are dealing with a criminal or a non-suspicious [death],” said Roberts.

A sailboat and a row boat believed to be linked to the body’s discovery have been towed for examination, according to an RCMP Media release .

Roberts confirmed that the two vessels were found abandoned near where the body was discovered and depending on the results of forensic analysis currently underway, there is a “high possibility that [they] may be connected to [the] current recovered body.”

This story has been updated to include comment from the BC RCMP.

This is a breaking story. Updates will be added as they emerge.

