UPDATE: Police confirm there was no 2nd jumper off BC Interior bridge

(UPDATE: July 9 @ 2:20 pm) - Police are no longer searching for a potential drowning victim in the Columbia River.

An investigation into the bizarre incident began when witnesses reported seeing two men jump off the Victoria Street Bridge in Trail late in the evening of June 29.

When only one man made it to shore, the police were notified and efforts began to locate the potential second jumper.

Search and rescue crews combed the river and authorities in the United States were even notified about the possibility of a body making its way down river.

However, the RCMP has since received more clear information from the 33-year-old Trail man who did jump off the bridge, which has allowed investigators to conclude that he was the only jumper.

"Drugs and mental health may have influenced the information provided to police at the time it was collected," explained an RCMP release.

The investigation into the incident has now been closed.

(Original story: July 5 @ 11:15 am) - Mounties in the Kootenays continue to investigate a strange case and a potential death in the Columbia River last weekend.

The RCMP received a call shortly after 10 pm on Saturday, June 29, about two people jumping off the Victoria Street Bridge and into the Columbia River in Trail.

A 33-year-old local man swam to the river bank after the jump and was helped onto shore by bystanders.

Police suspect the man was “experiencing a mental health episode” at the time and he was transported to Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital for assessment.

There was no sign of a potential second jumper, however, which led to a large search of the Columbia River.

Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue deployed their rescue boat and conducted a sweep of the water, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The next morning, local search and rescue groups combed the area but had the same negative results.

“Canadian and US border authorities were notified about a possible missing and presumed drowned person,” explained a Trail RCMP release.

“No people have been reported missing to the RCMP since the incident; however, officers have followed up on tips from the public.”

The investigation is ongoing and Sgt. Mike Wicentowish says police are hoping to identify more witnesses and confirm the sighting of a second person jumping off the bridge.

“This incident was short in duration and still quite a mystery,” he said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has information about the identity of a potential second jumper, is urged to contact the Trail RCMP detachment at 250-364-2566.