|
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Northern Manitoba Air Search Finds Overdue Canoeists
Two Canoeists Last Seen August
24, 2007 and Due in Churchill September 1, 2007 Found by Civil Air
Search and Rescue Aircraft in Joint Mission with RCMP and Manitoba
Conservation
Churchill, MB, September 7, 2007:
Two overdue canoeists from Washington State, USA,
were found alive on the Deer River in Northern Manitoba. Last seen on
Recluse Lake along the Little Churchill River, the husband and wife told
a Winnipeg canoeist they expected to arrive in Churchill via the
Churchill River on September 1, 2007 to return by train back to The Pas.
The Winnipeg canoeist gave all of his remaining food supply to the
couple. When the couple did not pick up their vehicle as arranged in The
Pas, RCMP notified the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA).
On the request of Gillam RCMP Sergeant Scott McMurchy
and Churchill Corporal Jeff Asmundson, a CASARA aircraft arrived to join
the search on September 6, 2007. RCMP and Manitoba Conservation executed
the search by helicopter on the Little Churchill River from the last
known position on Recluse Lake. The search expanded using an RCMP
Pilatus PC 12 and a Manitoba Conservation Twin Otter aircraft. The
CASARA aircraft team of pilot Kevin Choy, navigator Ken Fox and spotter
Fred Eshpeter continued the mission northward up the Churchill River to
Churchill on a shore-line crawl and night search.
Based on experience, Sergeant McMurchy and Corporal
Asmundson suggested the canoeists may have portaged from the Little
Churchill River to the Deer River to possibly link up with the train at
M’Clintock Station 103 kilometers south of Churchill. Flying south from
Churchill the CASARA aircraft simultaneously searched the area between
the railroad and the Deer River at 800 feet above ground. At 4:46PM
local on September 7, 2007 spotter Fred Eshpeter saw what appeared to be
the canoe on the Deer River 83 kilometers direct from Churchill. The
CASARA aircraft circled to relay to the canoeists that they were seen
and the canoeists signaled from shore back to the CASARA aircraft. The
CASARA aircraft radioed their position to the helicopter searching along
Churchill River. The helicopter then recovered the couple back to
Churchill.
“This mission’s success is an exemplary example of
joint cooperation with the RCMP and Manitoba Conservation,” said Choy.
“With their local knowledge and CASARA training, the overdue couple was
found alive in spite of deteriorating weather and lack of resources.”
The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association of
Manitoba is a civilian, volunteer, non-profit association dedicated in
searching for crew and passengers of lost aircraft and others who may
require such assistance. The CASARA fleet of light aircraft remains
ready for independent and coordinated searches with both the RCMP,
military and other tasking agencies.
For More Information About CASARA Contact:
Kevin A. Choy
Vice-President
CASARA Manitoba
204 724-4811
-30-
Additional Links:
|
.jpg)
