Aircraft and ships are again being mobilized to resume searching for two fishermen off southern Labrador.
Dozens attended a protest at the Canadian Coast Guard station in St. John’s this afternoon at 1:00, calling for additional Search and Rescue support after the official search was called off yesterday just before darkness set in.
Marc Freeman Russell and crewmate Joey Jenkins did not return home on Friday, prompting a search organized by the Coast Guard and Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
Marc’s mother, Jeannette, says they know they can’t have the resources forever which is why all they’re asking for is another 24 hours. They have found a small amount of debris which could narrow the search area.
She pleaded their case on VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly this morning, asking that the two men not be given up on.
She says the boat could still be floating, as nobody has yet located it.
A Coast Guard ship and the MV Osprey are now on site and the CP-140 is on the ready.
A PAL Aerospace Dash 8-100 has also been dispatched to assist in the search effort.
MHA Lisa Dempster was present at the rally, and while holding back tears, noted that most people feel helpless and just want to find a way to show their support.
Marc Freeman Russell and crewmate Joey Jenkins did not return home on Friday, prompting a search organized by the Coast Guard. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre called off the search yesterday, handing the file over to the RCMP.
Regrettably, based on the results of the exhaustive search by a significant number of SAR aircraft and vessels over the last 48+ hours, a search covering over 4500 sq NM, the search for the two missing fishers aboard the FV Island Lady has been suspended.
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) September 19, 2021
Marc’s father, Dwight Russell, says there is no conclusive evidence that the vessel and lives have been lost. He wants an additional 24 hours of Search and Rescue support as the RCMP don’t have the resources required for such a search.
Marc’s mother, Jeanette, says they know they can’t have the resources forever which is why all they’re asking for is another 24 hours. They have found a small amount of debris which could narrow the search area.
She pleads with them not to give up on the two boys—not yet. She says the boat could still be floating as nobody has yet located it.
Area MHA Lisa Dempster says the province is doing all that it can to support the families and get the search efforts resumed.
“Search and rescue have a job to do here and they’re not doing it,” says Dempster. She says that there are many examples of search efforts being continued and there being a positive outcome.
The protest begins at 1 p.m. at the Coast Guard station on Southside Road in St. John’s.
