Fishery officers Gerald Fillatre, Terry Stein and Tim Leblanc headed out on the fisheries patrol vessel Reliance on a 450-kilometre round-trip Oct. 13 in search of a vessel in distress on Great Slave Lake. They found the boat in Devil's Channel, which they hooked up to theirs and towed it back to Yellowknife. - photo courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
Boaters rescued in East Arm
Fishery officers respond to vessel with engine problems carrying two people on Great Slave Lake
Elaine Anselmi
Northern News Services
Published Friday, October 24, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two boaters have been rescued from the East Arm of Great Slave Lake following a cold night on the water.
Fishery officers based in Yellowknife with Fisheries and Oceans Canada were contacted by the RCMP about the vessel in distress on Oct. 13.
"We got a call from RCMP saying there was a vessel past due in the East Arm with mechanical issues," said detachment supervisor Gerald Fillatre.
The 28-foot cabin cruiser had engine problems that caused the two people on board to find a safe harbour to anchor. Police were notified of the vessel being overdue on Oct. 13, said RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko.
The boat had been left in Hay River over the summer due to engine problems, and the owner along with a friend flew back to fix the motor and bring it back to Yellowknife.
The boaters had left word that if they hadn't arrived within four days, to contact RCMP.
Sturko said the RCMP encourages this sort of back-up planning, whether on land or water.
"They called in, reporting an overdue boater and around the same time the (boaters) were able to make radio contact and they said the boat they had repaired had broken down again, and they weren't going to be able to make it back to Yellowknife," said Sturko.
With fishery officers already planning a trip to bring the patrol vessel Reliance back from Hay River to Yellowknife, Sturko said they were able to make the rescue.
"We originally started in Yellowknife, got a call around 1 p.m., then we flew to Hay River at 5 p.m. that night," said Fillatre.
"We left Hay River around 6:30 p.m. We transited across the lake to Devil's Channel in the dark, arrived there at 3 a.m., searched in the dark for two hours, shut down and waited for daylight to restart the search."
Officers were given a location for the vessel, but Fillatre said the boat had moved to a safer part of Devil's Channel where the vessel's radio was unable to make contact.
"We were given a specific location and that's where we searched but that's not where they were, and it was dark so we were searching via radar and with our spotlights."
Along with Fillatre, officers Terry Stein, and Tim Leblanc travelled the 175 kilometres from Hay River, to the last known location of the boat.
Resuming the search around 8 a.m., the vessel was located with both passengers safely on board.
"They were cold but otherwise they were in good shape," said Fillatre, adding the temperature had dropped below zero overnight.
"They were pleased to see us."
The officers travelled more than 450 kilometres in total, and Fillatre said this sort of search and rescue is rare for fishery officers - occurring once or twice per year.
Offering some words of advice, Fillatre said ensuring others are aware of your plans and location is key.
"The big thing is make sure you have a trip plan so people know when and where you're going and when you expect to be home. That way they know where to start looking for you when you're delayed," said Fillatre.
"Also, bring a form of communication in case your plans do change, such as a satellite phone
or VHF radio."
