ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, N.S. — RCMP have ended the search for the five fishermen still missing from a tragic accident at sea more than a month ago.
In a release, Nova Scotia RCMP says they’re “concluding its search activities” for the missing crew of the Chief William Saulis scallop dragger, which didn’t dock on Dec. 15 as scheduled.
“The RCMP recognizes the devastation that this tragedy has had on the men’s families and community members who have all demonstrated remarkable resiliency,” the release reads. “We continue to extend sympathies to the family members.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education investigations are continuing and RCMP will support them when needed, according to the release.
The six-member crew of the Chief William Saulis was Capt. Charles Roberts, Aaron Gogswell, Daniel Forbes, Michael Drake, Geno Francis and Leonard Gabriel. Drake’s body was recovered on Dec. 15 after an emergency beacon was activated off the coast of Delaps Cove and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre responded.
On Jan. 4, underwater search efforts began using sonar equipment and on Jan. 16 the provincial and national RCMP underwater recovery teams located the vessel about 60 metres deep.
The RCMP asked the Canadian Air Forces if divers could be deployed to explore the sunken Chief William Saulis. Due to the depth, it was determined unsafe to have divers go down to see if the missing fishermen were on the vessel.
