Community
Search for Tulita teen ends in heartbreak
The body of 16-year-old River Clement has been returned to his family
The search for a missing Tulita teenager has come to a tragic conclusion.
16-year-old River Clement had last been seen around 5am on August 15th, near Cranberry Crescent in Tulita. His family shared that his last contact with any of them was at 5:21am, when he responded to a text from his grandmother.
A single boat was seen parked at the Tulita dock earlier that night, and was later found drifting in the middle of the Mackenzie River around 6am. By 7am, the boat had been recovered, and several of the items found inside were determined to be Clement’s.
A full search for the young man was quickly launched, with support coming from across the community in the form of volunteer search efforts, and monetary donations.
Clement’s aunt, Lynda MacCauley, was chosen by the Tulita Band to be the Central Search Coordinator. At 8:53pm on Thursday, August 21st, MacCauley posted on her Facebook page the tragic news that River had been found deceased.
“Please keep my family in your prayers as we navigate through this. We are all so broken.” The post read.
Tulita teen River Clement in an undated photo. (Photo: Family/Facebook)
MacCauley made another post just before 9:30 on Friday morning, thanking everyone who assisted in the effort to find River.
“As our families’ hearts are broken, they are also somehow filled with gratitude. Our River was found and is home. Wishing it could have been a better outcome, but we have him physically with us.”
MacCauley said that it was unbelievable to see how everyone came together to help, and how quickly action was taken. She expressed her thanks to the number of different community groups who provided aid in the search, such as the Tulita Dene Band, Fire Department, Canadian Rangers from Tulita, Deline, and Fort Good Hope, among many others.
“And to everyone who searched by walking, quadding, boating or flying. Who sat at the river all day and night keeping track of all watercraft coming and going.
We couldn’t have done all this without you and we’ll never forget how everyone pulled together, sent prayers, sent donations, sent food, whom supported the families and NEVER GAVE UP.
We can never thank you all enough for the outpouring support and love that was shown in the search for River.”
