ATHABASCA - The death of a man, whose body was found near the Athabasca Skate Park Monday morning, was likely due to exposure, say RCMP.
Athabasca RCMP responded to a 911 call early Monday morning, Sept. 7, and found the body of Roy Jacobs, a man in his 60s from Calling Lake. Jacobs was well-known in Athabasca and was "a fixture in the area," said Athabasca RCMP Staff Sgt. Paul Gilligan Sept. 8.
"Someone saw the body down by the river — where the creek and river come together there — near the skate park," he added.
The temperature outside that night hovered just above the freezing point.
Next of kin have been notified of Jacobs' passing, police said.
Rumours spread around the Town of Athabasca and on social media quickly that day, and there was speculation that the presence of emergency vehicles at River Front Park was part of a training exercise as the Athabasca Fire Department had been preparing for water rescues at the nearby boat launch, but that turned out not to be the case.
