My thoughts go to this young man's family and friends......
Young diver presumed dead in Petawawa River incident
Man, 22, was on his third dive when incident occurred
Howaida Sorour
The Ottawa Citizen
Saturday, April 08, 2006
PETAWAWA - The search continues today for a 22-year-old novice recreational
diver who went missing Thursday evening near where the Petawawa River enters
the Ottawa.
The man, who is presumed dead, has not been identified until relatives
arrive from Toronto. He was only on his third dive and was one of four
students accompanied by two instructors.
He was a member of the military but the dive was a private recreational one.
"He was so close to shore, about 20 or 30 feet. All he had to do was turn
around or just hit the button on his buoyancy compensator, but he was in a
lot of distress," said instructor Mike Pearce, advanced rescue diver and a
witness to the tragedy.
The water temperature is below freezing and visibility is between five and
10 feet (1.5 to three metres) in the water, according to Mr. Pearce.
When the young man had been submerged for 10 seconds, the dive master on
shore called 911 about 5:50 p.m. Petawawa's fire department was the first on
the scene.
"We conducted a shoreline search and then requested a boat from CFB Petawawa
fire department," said town fire Chief Steve Knott.
Divers from the military base searched until 8 p.m Thursday and were back
yesterday at 7 a.m., according to Maj. Mark Flint. OPP divers took over the
search about noon.
At this time of the year the rivers are quite high and the currents can be
strong, said Sgt. Clem Paradis of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP.
"It's a fairly tricky site, because the water is flowing very fast.
"There's a fair bit of danger involved with the rescue," said Sgt. Paradis.
Yesterday's search effort included canine search teams as well as
helicopters from the base and police and military boats.
"He was really looking forward to this dive," said Mr. Pearce. "I had taken
him on his first two dives and he really was very eager. He was a confident,
calm, really fit guy."
"I was out of the water when he (the missing man) surfaced and he was
yelling and waving his arms, then 15 seconds later (the other dive
instructor) and the other student surfaced," said Mr. Pearce.
Meanwhile, the dive master and the other instructor called to the distressed
young man telling him to inflate his buoyancy compensator so that his dive
weights wouldn't pull him back down.
Mr. Pearce re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the man.
"I was halfway across when he disappeared," said Mr. Pearce. He and the
other instructor continued to search until relief arrived.
© The Ottawa Citizen 2006
Young diver presumed dead in Petawawa River incident
Man, 22, was on his third dive when incident occurred
Howaida Sorour
The Ottawa Citizen
Saturday, April 08, 2006
PETAWAWA - The search continues today for a 22-year-old novice recreational
diver who went missing Thursday evening near where the Petawawa River enters
the Ottawa.
The man, who is presumed dead, has not been identified until relatives
arrive from Toronto. He was only on his third dive and was one of four
students accompanied by two instructors.
He was a member of the military but the dive was a private recreational one.
"He was so close to shore, about 20 or 30 feet. All he had to do was turn
around or just hit the button on his buoyancy compensator, but he was in a
lot of distress," said instructor Mike Pearce, advanced rescue diver and a
witness to the tragedy.
The water temperature is below freezing and visibility is between five and
10 feet (1.5 to three metres) in the water, according to Mr. Pearce.
When the young man had been submerged for 10 seconds, the dive master on
shore called 911 about 5:50 p.m. Petawawa's fire department was the first on
the scene.
"We conducted a shoreline search and then requested a boat from CFB Petawawa
fire department," said town fire Chief Steve Knott.
Divers from the military base searched until 8 p.m Thursday and were back
yesterday at 7 a.m., according to Maj. Mark Flint. OPP divers took over the
search about noon.
At this time of the year the rivers are quite high and the currents can be
strong, said Sgt. Clem Paradis of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP.
"It's a fairly tricky site, because the water is flowing very fast.
"There's a fair bit of danger involved with the rescue," said Sgt. Paradis.
Yesterday's search effort included canine search teams as well as
helicopters from the base and police and military boats.
"He was really looking forward to this dive," said Mr. Pearce. "I had taken
him on his first two dives and he really was very eager. He was a confident,
calm, really fit guy."
"I was out of the water when he (the missing man) surfaced and he was
yelling and waving his arms, then 15 seconds later (the other dive
instructor) and the other student surfaced," said Mr. Pearce.
Meanwhile, the dive master and the other instructor called to the distressed
young man telling him to inflate his buoyancy compensator so that his dive
weights wouldn't pull him back down.
Mr. Pearce re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the man.
"I was halfway across when he disappeared," said Mr. Pearce. He and the
other instructor continued to search until relief arrived.
© The Ottawa Citizen 2006
