Old Ironmaker
Captain
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2015
- Messages
- 3,050
heard the 1st yellow Coast Guard helicopter fly by very low about 2PM. The pilot was circling our place continually, not a good sign. I was going to a friends at Featherstone Point on the west shore about 3. There were 5 OPP vehicles and about 30 folks gathered at the cottage of a very close friend that had passed a few years back. His daughter rents it as a vacation property now. When I got to Featherstone there were 3 boats west of the point. Our OPP Zodiac and 2 from our Coast Guard station in Port Dover. I am very surprised that our glass OPP boat wasn't out there too. edit: That would have left a large portion of the lake and Grand River without a marine vessel. About 4:30 a second chopper began to search as well. They were searching a very tight grid. As the day went on and the second helicopter arrived the grid got larger heading east, There was a mild wind from the south west all day.
An update. Global News reports that a 42 year old man was reported missing yesterday, Wednesday morning from what was supposed to be a short fishing trip west of Featherstone Point. He was in an inflatable boat. The boat was recovered yesterday but not the missing fisherman. A poor news report in my mind. What type of "inflatable"? A CTC blow up toy or a proper inflatable. Did he have a PDF with him? Does he have any safety items with him? Is he a strong swimmer? many questions that could have been asked. I pray for a good outcome but this will be the 2nd night missing. It's much different reading about a search for a missing boater and watching the search. The boys were doing a job on the shoreline and scouring the shore with good binoculars watching for a body to wash up on shore. I can't imagine the grief the family will have if the outcome isn't good. Going from a vacation week on the lake to grieving at a funeral home.
An update. Global News reports that a 42 year old man was reported missing yesterday, Wednesday morning from what was supposed to be a short fishing trip west of Featherstone Point. He was in an inflatable boat. The boat was recovered yesterday but not the missing fisherman. A poor news report in my mind. What type of "inflatable"? A CTC blow up toy or a proper inflatable. Did he have a PDF with him? Does he have any safety items with him? Is he a strong swimmer? many questions that could have been asked. I pray for a good outcome but this will be the 2nd night missing. It's much different reading about a search for a missing boater and watching the search. The boys were doing a job on the shoreline and scouring the shore with good binoculars watching for a body to wash up on shore. I can't imagine the grief the family will have if the outcome isn't good. Going from a vacation week on the lake to grieving at a funeral home.