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Families pressing for action to find missing fishermen

The Canadian Coast Guard located the capsized vessel and families are pressing officials to have the vessel searched by divers. Canadian Coast Guard photo

The Canadian Coast Guard located the capsized vessel and families are pressing officials to have the vessel searched by divers. Canadian Coast Guard photo

Published on February 21, 2013
The News
Published on February 21, 2013
Topics :
RCMP , Nova Scotia , Woods Harbour

As families were anxiously awaiting word from the RCMP on a recovery operation, a father of one of the lost fishermen says a team of private divers is heading to the scene.

George Hopkins, the father of missing fisherman Joel Hopkins, says a team of divers from eastern Nova Scotia are on their way to search the Miss Ally.

Families of the five fishermen have been pressing for action to have the capsized boat searched by divers.

Hopkins was told it was too difficult and dangerous to either flip or search the vessel.

“It was a beautiful day yesterday,” said Hopkins.  “Why couldn’t they have done it then?”

Hopkins received a call from an eastern Nova Scotian fisherman who told him there was a team of salvage divers ready if Hopkins wanted them.

“They have already left and are on their way,” he said.

The RCMP has set up a command centre in Woods Harbour and was expected to decide its next actions later today.

The search for the 45-foot Miss Ally began Sunday night after an emergency locator beacon was activated at 11:06 p.m. about 120 kilometres south of Liverpool.

A life raft, spotted the next morning by and aircraft, was not seen again. The hull of the capsized vessel was located by searchers.

 

 

Comments

  • Username
    Joanna
    - February 23, 2013 at 14:04:35

    From another article: "A life raft was spotted the next morning by a US Coast Guard aircraft via a flare but high winds and swells reaching 10 metres impeded their ability to do anything." Maybe this rescue/search is a little more complicated than it seems. It could be harder than just flying out and jumping in the water. I'm sure there is a lot more to be considered. I mean no disrespect, and feel greatly for all those involved in this terrible tragedy.

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  • Username
    CHERI
    - February 22, 2013 at 10:30:51

    Joel Hopkins is my 3rd Cousin. ANON I'm with you! Why haven't they check the boat yet? Oh it's to Dangerous? They can put a man on the moon, have a man jump from space and land safely, send men to war that not even our fight know half of them will not me coming back, and dive down to the titanic. But Yet they can't save the lives of 5 younge men who are trapped out to sea under their vessel? Yes I know that the weather wasn't great but they should have been waiting to dive in the second they had a chance.. Looking all over the waters and ignoring the obvious that they just might be under the boat! everyone knows that the safes place for you when ur boat flips over in under it in an air pocket...The emergency locator beacon was activated at 11:06 p.m and by thoughts as well as many others believe that they are still in the boat knowing that help was on the way just playing that help came before hypothermia set in...BUT HELP NEVER CAME! sorry they did but they neglected to search the boat! COME ON!!!! You know darn right that if it was Harper's son out there they would have rescued them by now..... R.I.P Cuz and the other men! May you now watch over the seas and protect your fellow fishermen xoxo (Still holding on the last shred of hope for a miracle that at least one of you are still alive)

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  • Username
    Sheila
    - February 21, 2013 at 20:45:44

    If the raft was spotted, then why did they not go after the raft sooner?

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  • Username
    anon
    - February 21, 2013 at 16:50:05

    The RCMP has set up a command centre in Woods Harbour and was expected to decide its next actions later today wouldn't the boat be one of the first places one would look?? its floating upside down ... wonder if theres still air in there ???? unreal ...

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