Overboard
Search for man in Mackenzie River
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 21, 2014
LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS
The search for a man who fell into the Mackenzie River at Norman Wells on July 15 continued on Friday, says the community's search and rescue co-ordinator.
John Greathead said a man and a woman had been canoeing on the river that evening when they both fell in. He said around 9 p.m., people heard screams for help and ran down to the shore and saw an overturned canoe.
"Within minutes of it happening, there was probably a dozen boats in the water," he said.
The woman was retrieved about 150 metres from shore, but rescuers were unable to see the man, who has lived in the community for a month.
Boaters stayed out until 1:30 a.m. and some even stayed out until about 6:30 a.m. the next morning.
Searchers have been looking ever since, Greathead said.
"Right now, we've got buoys out marking all our different reference points, where she was retrieved, where he was last seen and where the canoe was retrieved," he said.
A resident donated his high-definition sonar fish finders to aid in the search.
Greathead said the entire community is helping out, whether they are helping to locate the man or simply providing food and support.
Greathead said searchers from Tulita and Fort Good Hope travelled to Norman Wells to help as well.
Greathead didn't say whether the man was wearing a life jacket. The search was continuing as of press time Friday.
