BRITISH COLUMBIA (From the Victoria Times Colonist) -- Searchers have found the body of a man who disappeared Tuesday (9 December 2014) after arriving at Crofton's Catalyst pulp-and-paper mill to deliver wood chips.

Perry Vernon Thomas, 66, of Qualicum Beach was discovered Thursday in one of the mill's storage silos, which is where it was suspected he would be found.

Thomas was a truck driver with Bobell Express Ltd.

The B.C. Coroners Service said Thomas delivered wood chips to Catalyst about 5 p.m. Tuesday, and workers reported about half an hour later that he could not be located.

The mill's emergency services were contacted and a search was launched immediately.

The silo where the body was found is connected by a conveyor belt over 300 metres long to the area where Thomas was delivering his load. The coroner, the RCMP and WorkSafe B.C. are all involved in the investigation.

WorkSafe B.C. spokesman Scott McCloy said he can't recall anything like this happening at any mill in the province.

"This is very disturbing," he said.

"Trucks back up to these kinds of facilities on a regular basis in pulp mills across the province every day. I've been here more than 20 years and I can't remember a similar kind of incident."

Joe Nemeth, Catalyst Paper's president and CEO, said in a statement that everyone at the company is saddened by Thomas's "tragic accident."

"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time."

McCloy said WorkSafe B.C. will do all it can to determine what happened.

"In virtually all traumatic fatality injuries, we conduct an investigation," he said. "Our investigations team has been there since Tuesday afternoon, and we'll continue to be there until such time as they have concluded their evidence-gathering and their interviews with various parties."

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EARLIER ARTICLE

A worker is missing at the Catalyst mill in Crofton and investigators suspect he may have fallen into a storage silo.

North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP received a call from workers at the mill Tuesday night saying a truck driver delivering woodchips was missing and may have been involved in an accident, said Cpl. Jon Stuart.

Mounties found evidence that the driver may have been caught by a conveyor belt and carried into a storage silo. The man has not been found and mill workers are searching the massive silo.

"It's a very complicated operation because there's a lot of hazards when conducting the search," said WorkSafe B.C. spokesman Scott McCloy.

The family of the driver has been notified. His name and age have not been released.

WorkSafe B.C. inspectors were notified and arrived at the scene Tuesday night and remained on the scene Wednesday.

The mill is shut down because of the search and investigation.

"We've made support available to our employees through our employee and family assistance program," said Eduarda Hodgins, director of organization development and communications for Catalyst Paper. "And workers are working with investigators from WorkSafe B.C. to support and enable the investigation."

Bobell Express Ltd., the transport company that employed the driver, is also investigating.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends and co-workers at this time," said Dag Waddell, general manager of Marpole Transport, which works with Bobell.

Waddell said he can't comment any further because it's an ongoing investigation.

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