Two men in their 20s who came across a canoe ended up in the chilly waters of Inner Harbour.
Victoria police received a 911 call about 2:45 p.m. Saturday reporting an overturned canoe and two men off the Harbour Air base.
Police and the coast guard began searching, but then got news that a pair of men had been seen on shore running away from the HMCS Malahat building.
Police caught up with the men near the Fairmont Empress hotel.
Both were remorseful and admitted they had been drinking.
“They said they found the canoe on a beach,” said Victoria police Const. Mike Russell.
There was nothing on the canoe to indicate who owned it, and police received no reports of anyone missing, he said.
The canoe was returned to where it was found. No charges were laid.