Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2014006556) and
1 other sourceOn a summer day in 2006, 18-year-old Preston Wayne Waldner was with a friend at Paradise Beach, a spot along the South Saskatchewan River near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was July 23, 2006, when the two young men made a decision to try and swim across the river. The river's current, however, proved to be deceptively strong. As they made their way across, both began to struggle in the powerful water.
While his friend was successfully pulled from the river, Preston was tragically seen going under the surface and did not come back up.
Immediate search efforts were launched in the wake of the incident to find the missing teenager. Despite the efforts of search teams, Preston could not be located in the vast and murky river. At the time he was last seen, he was wearing black casual nylon shorts. His family was left with only the memory of his distinguishing features: a shaved head, burn scars on his right calf, and a noticeable tattoo on the left side of his chest depicting a howling wolf with his initials, PWW, inscribed above it.
The search for Preston Wayne Waldner has never officially ended, and his case remains an active missing person file with the RCMP. Over the years, law enforcement, including the RCMP's Historical Case Unit, has conducted periodic searches of the South Saskatchewan River, hoping to bring closure to the families of several individuals who have disappeared in its waters. These searches, however, have not yet led to Preston's recovery. The case is a somber reminder of the dangers of the river's strong currents; a young man enjoying a summer day with a friend ventured into the water and was tragically swept away, leaving behind a family still awaiting answers.Last Seen: Jul 23, 2006
