Alberta RCMP continue search for Cold Lake missing man after trestle fall
Alberta RCMP continue search for Cold Lake missing man after a 25-year-old fell from the Beaver Ridge Trestle Bridge into the river on May 1; recovery efforts ongoing.
A sustained search is underway for a 25-year-old man who slipped from the Beaver Ridge Trestle Bridge near Cold Lake and disappeared into the river on May 1, officials said.
The Cold Lake missing man was reported to have been walking with friends on the Iron Horse Trail trestle around 5:45 p.m. when he fell from the structure and vanished beneath the water.
Alberta RCMP said search and rescue teams have been working at the scene and that the operation has reached a recovery phase as crews continue to comb the area.
Incident on Iron Horse Trail trestle
Police reported the man had moved outside the trestle’s safety rail to look over the edge when he lost his footing and fell into the river below.
RCMP Const. Mathew Howell said witnesses saw the man briefly at the surface before he disappeared and did not resurface, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Search and recovery operation in progress
Multiple agencies have been deployed to the scene, including search and rescue units, fire rescue personnel and underwater search teams.
Emergency operations staff have remained in the area since the incident, coordinating searches along the river corridor and on the trestle itself.
Location and access constraints
The Beaver Ridge Trestle Bridge, part of the Iron Horse Trail, sits roughly 20 kilometres south of Cold Lake and is a remote, elevated structure that complicates access for ground crews.
Officials described the site as challenging for standard rescue operations, requiring specialized equipment and teams to conduct underwater and shoreline searches.
River conditions and public safety warnings
RCMP and search coordinators warned the public to stay away from the trestle and adjacent riverbanks while crews work, citing dangerous river conditions.
Authorities said the moving water and underwater hazards create serious risks for would-be rescuers or members of the public attempting their own searches.
Witness accounts and timeline
Those who were with the man provided immediate details to responding officers, telling investigators they saw him fall and briefly surface before he disappeared beneath the current.
Investigators have relied on those witness reports to establish a timeline for the search and recovery effort, while continuing to gather information at the scene.
Operational challenges for divers and crews
Underwater search resources face limited visibility, submerged obstructions and shifting currents that complicate recovery work, sources at the scene said.
Search teams must balance the urgency of locating the missing man with the safety of divers and technicians working in hazardous conditions, officials added.
Police said they moved into a recovery stage after initial rescue efforts did not locate the man, and crews are continuing methodical sweeps in and around the river.
Officials declined to release further identifying information while searches continue and family notifications are carried out through appropriate channels.
The RCMP urged anyone with information or who may have been in the area on May 1 to contact investigators and to avoid the trestle site to prevent additional incidents.
Local authorities emphasized that river conditions remain unpredictable and that public cooperation is essential to keep both civilians and emergency personnel safe.
Search operations will likely continue until teams are satisfied that all viable areas have been examined, RCMP said, with priorities moving from immediate rescue to recovery and evidence preservation.
For now, the Cold Lake missing man case remains active as specialized crews work through the technical and environmental challenges presented by the trestle and river setting.
