Matthew Hamm went out fishing Sept. 23, 2020 and didn't return. (Submitted photo/James Hamm)

By Derek Cornet

Search and Rescue

Body of missing Weyakwin Lake man found

May 14, 2021 | 1:24 PM

The Saskatchewan RCMP have been confirmed the body recovered Wednesday from Weyakwin Lake is missing person Matthew Hamm.

In a media release issued Friday, it was confirmed RCMP were contacted by Lloydminster Rescue Squad about the discovery of a body. It notes the remains were confirmed via autopsy to belong to Hamm.

Waskesiu RCMP would like to thank the many partners who assisted in the search for Matthew since September, including the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Search and Rescue and Underwater Recovery Team, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, La Ronge Canadian Rangers, Government of Saskatchewan Conservation Officers, Hutterite Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART), Lloydminster Rescue Squad and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service, among others.

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The body of missing man Matthew Hamm, who disappeared while boating on Weyakwin Lake, was recovered Wednesday.

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He was found by a team with Lloydminster Rescue Squad, who had assisted in the search for Hamm ever since he was last seen Sept. 23, 2020. Squad deputy chief Ryan Leblanc explained it was the fourth time the group had looked for him on Weyakwin Lake, noting this time they utilized a drone and fan boat.

“The ice was coming off, so we started the search the morning of May 12 and, just at 9:30 a.m., we successfully located Matthew’s body and were able to successfully recover him and bring him to the shoreline for the RCMP and coroners service to conduct their investigation,” Leblanc said.

After Hamm went missing, a large-scale search was launched to find him involving the Canadian Rangers, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, conservation officers, RCMP and more. In March, his family issued a $100,000 reward for his safe return.

Leblanc wanted to thank the community of Weyakwin Lake, along with cottage owners, for their hospitality and support they’ve provided to Lloydminster Rescue Squad and the Hamm family during the last eight months.

“We’re just so sorry for what’s happened to them and what they had to go through,” he said. “We’re happy we were able to provide some closure to them and bring Matthew to a place so they can now lay him to rest. We’re just thankful that they are now able to have some closure.”

Matthew Hamm was 24 when he went missing last September. (Submitted photo/James Hamm)

larongeNOW reached out to the Hamm family who released the following statement.

“We, as a family, would like to thank the Lloyd Team for coming out. Without search teams like them, families would be lost. Until a person goes through something like we have, people don’t realize how valuable these teams [are]. These teams work on donations only and we would be thankful for any donations made to them, so they will be there for the next family that needs them.”

Lloydminster Rescue Squad was founded in 1984 and is a registered charitable organization.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno