By Quinn BenderHaida Gwaii ObserverThe search and rescue for Brent Hendren has been downgraded to an active investigation. As of 7 p.m. last night search teams consisting of the RCMP, DFO and the Archipelago SAR determined the likelihood of achieving a successful rescue operation was extremely low. Search teams will continue their work on the ground, but under the heavy acceptance their efforts may lead only to the recovery of a body."Continuing the search would most likely be futile," said RCMP Cst Patti Evans. "We can't say for certain what the status is [of Mr. Hendren's condition] at this point, but the active search has been called off."The Canadian Coast guard vessel assisting with the search had been recalled Wednesday evening. Brent Hendren was last seen in Masset around 9 p.m. last Saturday, April 18, when a friend dropped him off near North Beach. He was spotted briefly the next morning but missed dinner plans with friends later that night. Mr. Hendren is a caucasian male, almost six-feet tall with dark, medium-length hair and a thick beard. An avid outdoorsman, he's known by friends to sometimes push himself beyond his experience level. He moved to Haida Gwaii from Ontario last November to learn how to forage for food and live off the land while living in a cabin on Kumdis Island. Masset RCMP have confirmed a backpack belonging to Mr. Hendren was located Wednesday afternoon near Sewall. Earlier a boat Mr. Hendren had been borrowing from an islander on a regular basis was found abandoned in Masset Inlet with no oars or outboard motor.On Tuesday afternoon the coordinated search was launched between the RCMP, Canadian military, Coast Guard and Masset-based Archipelago Search and Rescue, employing several aircraft and marine vessels to locate signs of Mr. Hendren between the Ain River and the entrance to the Masset Channel. However, since the discovery of the boat and backpack, no further clues have been found that might lead to Mr. Hendren's whereabouts.