Since arriving in North West River, Labrador last week the Deer Lake Underwater Recovery Team has had its share of challenges as it assists in the search for Luke Cooper.
The 43-year-old man from North West River is presumed dead after his canoe capsized on North West River on July 15.
At the request of Mr. Cooper’s family, team leader Dave Lewis and members Derrick McKay and Steve Wilton took the team’s side-sonar equipment to the area on July 25.
They have teamed up with Gene Ralston and his wife, Sandy Ralston, of Boise, Idaho.
The couple brought their own side-sonar equipment to Deer Lake in 2007 to help in the recovery of Stephan Hopkins. The 19-year-old from Deer Lake drowned in a boating accident.
After that, the team was formed and raised money to purchase its own equipment.
Up to Wednesday afternoon the search for Mr. Cooper had not been successful.
It’s a grim job, but Lewis said that is the way it is.
“This is what we originally obtained all this sonar equipment for,” he said. “We’ve proven it in the past that it works.”
Still the job is not easy.
“With the tide and the currents that’s here and the timelines — it’s an incredibly large area to search.”
The accident occurred on North West River, which flows out into Lake Melville.
“To cover an area like this would take months.”
That means the team has had to realistically size up the area in terms of possibilities and rule out certain areas.
They conducted a simulated test, putting out a canoe at around the same time and in the same tide conditions as when Mr. Cooper went out to try and figure out what may have happened between the time of the accident and the time the canoe was discovered by local searchers.
The size of the area is not the only challenge the team has faced. Weather has also been an issue.
Thunder and lightning was keeping the team off the water Wednesday afternoon.
Lewis said when they have been out they’ve encountered a lot of midday winds.
There was also a lot of rain before they arrived, which has added to the water flow in the area.
The team also had to contend with some boat troubles. But they are not in it alone.
“It’s been a pretty enormous search in terms of locals offering their assistance and their boats. People on the water every day from daylight to dark.”
Lewis expects they’ll stay a couple more days and said the possibility of leaving without success is always an obstacle when their goal is to help a family.
“Our hearts and prayers are with them. It’s a very difficult time for them, and the community and everyone involved.”
