The search continued on Day 4 with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary vessels deployed to the search area, between the south shore and Windy Bay, on Great Slave Lake.
Fishing debris, believed to be from the identified vessel, were located in the open water in the area, however, there have been no sightings of the missing fishermen after four days of searching.
At this time, it is believed that all viable search options have been exhausted. With information to date, the probability of survival is low.
“Our hearts are with the families as we draw to the close of Day 4,” Sgt. Brandon Humbke, Hay River Detachment NCO said. “We will continue to support them in this difficult time.”
The group of four men left the commercial dock in Hay River early on Sunday, September 29, to travel to Sulphur Point, on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, to check fishing nets.
The group was scheduled to be back before night time on Sunday, September 29.
On Monday, September 30, RCMP initiated a search and rescue operation.
On Tuesday, October 1, the search team discovered the partially submerged vessel used by the fishermen in the area of Windy Bay.
The search continued on Wednesday October 2, with the RCMP partnering with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Their vessels are being used to conduct grid searches between the south shore of the lake and the Windy Bay area.
October 3, the search efforts continued with the partner agencies, vessels and ROV, with no further results in locating the missing persons.
The RCMP have been in constant communication with the families of the missing fishermen.
RCMP thanks the community members and their partner agencies, 440 Squadron, JRCC, CASARA, Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Auxiliary Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries and Oceans for their continued assistance with this file.
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