Post by Sher on Jun 4, 2005 20:14:39 GMT -5
A police helicopter and search vessels are combing Okanagan Lake, near Vernon, British Columbia, for a Mountie who failed to surface after falling off a police Zodiac.
The RCMP constable fell into the water at about 3 p.m. PT Friday afternoon near the Vernon yacht club, in what police are calling an accident.
"We received a 9-1-1 call shortly after 3 p.m. . . . from a recreational boater on Okanagan Lake, that he had observed and witnessed one of our on duty members go overboard from our police boat," said Corp. Henry Proce of Vernon, RCMP.
It's not known if the constable was wearing a life jacket.
"From what I understand, he wasn't," said Leigh Pearson of Vernon Search and Rescue. "And he was wearing his full equipment. He was on duty. He was wearing everying from the gun belt to the bullet proof vest."
Volunteer firefighters were first to respond, and a search quickly mobilized and continued until night fell on Friday. The search picked up again early this morning.
"We've got Vernon Seach and Rescue there, we've got a police helicopter there, and probably a dozen or two civilian watercraft that were assisting us in the search as well," said Proce, adding that he's still hopeful the constable may have been able to swim to shore and will be found alive.
But Pearson told CTV Vancouver, "I believe at this point it's probably a recovery, unfortunately."
"It's just a fact of life . . . he's been the in the water a long time."
Pearson described the constable, whose name is being withheld for now, as a long-time Vernon resident who's well known in the community.
"It's gonna be hard for them, I think," he said.
The incident comes just months after a Vernon RCMP auxilliary member was killed and a uniformed officer was seriously injured when their cruiser was broadsided by a stolen vehicle.
you can visit this link for video on this story
sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1117912659492_2?hub=topstories
The RCMP constable fell into the water at about 3 p.m. PT Friday afternoon near the Vernon yacht club, in what police are calling an accident.
"We received a 9-1-1 call shortly after 3 p.m. . . . from a recreational boater on Okanagan Lake, that he had observed and witnessed one of our on duty members go overboard from our police boat," said Corp. Henry Proce of Vernon, RCMP.
It's not known if the constable was wearing a life jacket.
"From what I understand, he wasn't," said Leigh Pearson of Vernon Search and Rescue. "And he was wearing his full equipment. He was on duty. He was wearing everying from the gun belt to the bullet proof vest."
Volunteer firefighters were first to respond, and a search quickly mobilized and continued until night fell on Friday. The search picked up again early this morning.
"We've got Vernon Seach and Rescue there, we've got a police helicopter there, and probably a dozen or two civilian watercraft that were assisting us in the search as well," said Proce, adding that he's still hopeful the constable may have been able to swim to shore and will be found alive.
But Pearson told CTV Vancouver, "I believe at this point it's probably a recovery, unfortunately."
"It's just a fact of life . . . he's been the in the water a long time."
Pearson described the constable, whose name is being withheld for now, as a long-time Vernon resident who's well known in the community.
"It's gonna be hard for them, I think," he said.
The incident comes just months after a Vernon RCMP auxilliary member was killed and a uniformed officer was seriously injured when their cruiser was broadsided by a stolen vehicle.
you can visit this link for video on this story
sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1117912659492_2?hub=topstories
