Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2014005682) and
1 other sourceOn a Tuesday, the twenty-seventh of September in 2011, 44-year-old Bernard Rodney Wierzba was with two friends by the Pembina River in northern Alberta. The three men, all from the Barrhead area, were socializing on the beach near the Manola Bridge, approximately 20 kilometers east of Barrhead. At some point, they made the decision to try and cross the river at a shallow point.
One of the men was able to make it back to the shore, but Bernard and his 28-year-old friend, Lloyd Vorman, disappeared into the water. Bernard was not wearing a life jacket at the time he went missing.
Immediate search efforts were launched to locate the two missing men. Tragically, Lloyd Vorman's body was recovered from the river on the Wednesday following their disappearance. The search for Bernard continued, with the RCMP Force Helicopter conducting an air search along the river in an effort to find him. Authorities from the Barrhead RCMP detachment were involved in the investigation and search operations. Bernard was described as a Caucasian male with a light/fair complexion, brown hair, and hazel eyes. He stood at approximately 67 inches tall and weighed around 194 pounds.
Official reports later confirmed that Bernard Rodney Wierzba had passed away on September 27, 2011. A memorial service was held for him a year later, on September 29, 2012, at the Rose Garden Chapel in Barrhead. The case of Bernard Wierzba is a somber reminder of the potential dangers of natural bodies of water. What began as a social gathering among friends tragically ended in loss. The initial uncertainty of a missing person case gave way to the heartbreaking confirmation of his passing on the very day he was last seen. The search efforts that followed his disappearance highlighted the challenging work of emergency responders in such situations. Ultimately, the discovery of his companion and the subsequent confirmation of his own death brought a sad conclusion to the search, officially closing the case.Last Seen: Sep 27, 2011
