Concerns for missing man

North Okanagan RCMP are concerned about the wellbeing of a missing man and are renewing their plea for the public to come forward with any information.

Const. Kelly Brett said Bjorn Collnes, 72, was last seen on Sept. 9, in Falkland and was reported missing to police on Sept. 12, after he failed to return home from a scheduled trip to Kamloops.

His brown mini-van was located by police abandoned that same day on highway 97, west of Westwold.

Brett said Collnes is a diabetic and had only a few days supply of insulin with him when he left his Falkland home.

“He only had medication to last until Sept. 14,” said Brett.

Collnes' van was found without keys in it and a blue mountain bike with a small gas-powered motor on it was missing.

“Police believe Mr. Collnes could be and have departed with that bike, however it is unconfirmed at this time,” said Brett.

Since Collnes has gone missing, police, with the support of the local search and rescue team, have conducted extensive ground and air searches of the area where his vehicle was located. The RCMP underwater recovery unit also conducted a search of Monte Lake.

“We are very concerned about Mr. Collnes wellbeing and are asking anyone who may have any information about his disappearance to contact police,” said Brett. “Investigators are also asking for any dash cam footage that may have been captured by passing motorists, between the hours of 1:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 9, and 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 on Highway 97 between Falkland and the Monte Lake area.”

Collnes is described as a Caucasian male, 72 years of age with blue eyes, brown hair, 5’7”. Colnes was last seen wearing a black Harley Davidson T-shirt, gray/black camouflage shorts with brown running shoes.