ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - Family and community members are continuing the search for a missing elder despite the end of the public search.

William Betthale, 92, of Fort Liard went missing while setting fish nets from his canoe on the Petitot River on May 27. William was at his cabin with his wife and his son Jerry Betthale.

Jerry was the first person to begin the search for William when he realized William was no longer in his canoe. The official search began the following day as an airplane and helicopter flew over the river while family and community members, along with search and rescue teams from the Fort Liard and Fort Nelson RCMP detachments, searched by boat.

The RCMP terminated the public search for William on June 1. Staff Sgt. Tom Roy from Fort Nelson along with Cpl. Wanita Minty from Fort Liard went to the searchers' camp at the Petitot River to inform the family.

The public search was conducted for five days, which is longer than normal when it's certain that it's a search and recovery not a search and rescue effort, said Roy. It was continued on behalf of the family in order to try and recover the body for them, he said.

"The circumstances right from the beginning were that Mr. Betthale couldn't have survived more than a few minutes in that water," said Roy.

When William went in the water the river was flowing extremely high and fast and the water was cold. William also wasn't wearing a flotation device, he said.

"The chances of survival were minimal to almost none right from the onset," Roy said.

It will now be up to the family and private searchers to continue the search, he said. The RCMP will offer assistance in the form of divers and a boat to the family if they think they've found something. Cpl. Wanita Minty is remaining in contact with the family.

As the water levels in the rivers decrease over the summer, the RCMP will also have flights conducted over the Petitot and Liard Rivers, Roy said.

Although William hasn't been found, there have been signs of his belongings. His canoe was found on May 28 floating overturned approximately five kilometres down river against a steep embankment in a canyon. Later his walking stick was found in a similar location.

On May 31 his tobacco pouch was found along with a glove the day after. A second glove was found on June 5 on the Petitot north of the border. On June 6 Minty said the search was expected to focus on that area for the day.

Based on the precedent set in response to previous boating accidents, Harry Deneron said family and community members are likely to continue the search until the body is found or until conditions halt the search in the fall. William was Deneron's brother-in-law.

"He always had a net in the water," Deneron said.

"He died (doing) what he liked doing the most."

William spent most of his time at his cabin because he liked to get out and set nets, something he couldn't do in Fort Liard, Deneron said. Although it's been over two weeks the search is still going strong.

Almost every boat and canoe in the community is being used for the search, he said.

Deneron and three other community members went from the Petitot River bridge to Fort Liard in a river scow on June 4 to search and check the water conditions.

"It's a tough river to search on because from the bridge the water runs down quite fast," he said.

Added challenges include the canyon and the rough water inside of it, said Deneron.

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