3 generations of 1 family involved in Cape Spear fishing tragedy

Search and rescue officials still hopeto find two people alive after recovering two bodies and a boat that sank near St. John's harbourin an incident that has touched three generations of fishermen.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax updatedreporters on Wednesday about thefour fishermenwho were aboard a 6-metre fishingboatwhen it sank off the coast of Cape Spear.

• Better to know what happened, says skipper who helped find Shea Heights fishermen

"Two bodies were recovered yesterday afternoon. The vessel was located this morning," said Maj. Rhonda Stevens."But right now the search efforts continue with the hopes of successfully finding these two fishermen."

Search and Rescue operators brief reporters on boat accident

8 years ago

Duration 2:10

Master Warrant Officer Tim Eagle and Maj. Rhonda Stevens speak to reporters at a JRCC briefing in Halifax Wednesday afternoon.

Eugene Walsh, his son Keith Walsh Sr. and grandson Keith Walsh Jr., as well as family friend BillHumby, were on theboat that ran into trouble in Freshwater Bay on Tuesday, friend Terry Ryan confirmed toCBC.

Family members sounded the alarmwhen they didn't return home on schedule, according to Maj. Stevens. Shesaid the crew left early in the morning, andusually returned about mid-day.

Stevens and Master Warrant Officer Tim Eagle told reportersthat two bodies were found Tuesday afternoon at different points,butin the general vicinityoffishing gear near Cape Spear.

The men had personal flotation deviceson board the boat, Stevens said, but she could notconfirm whether any of the men were wearing them.

Eagle added the boat was underwater when search and rescue crews arrived Tuesday night, which made it harder to find.

'Good guys who united a community'

"Keith Walsh (Sr.)and Billy Humby were very good friends," Ryan said.

"They were real close friends of mine," he said, adding that Keith Walsh's garage was a community hangout.

"Just two nights ago we were watching America's Got Talent. He had a little pool table he just bought. If I dropped up by there for an hour, I knew I'd see a bunch of friends."

Ryan said the men were "good guys who united a community" in SheaHeights.

"They were just positive to be around," he said.

Investigators on the way

The Transportation Safety Board of Canadasaid Wednesday afternoon that it is deploying a team of investigators to St. John's.

Thecoast guard vessel Sir Wilfred Grenfell was seen returning to the harbour around 10:30 a.m., carrying a small vessel onboard.

Late Tuesdaynight, a coast guard vessel returned tobase onSouthsideRoad. It wasmet bytwo hearses,which were seen leaving the wharf more than an hour later.

More than 100 peoplehuddled under blankets near the Fort Amherst wharf and awaitedword on the missing men.

Airsearcheswere stalled overnight due to poor visibility, but resumedWednesday morning as weather conditions improved.

No unusual weather

Stevens said there were moderate winds on Tuesday, but no unusually bad weather or storms. She said there were many boats out in the area throughout the day.

"Definitely a day that was conducive to fishing," she explained.

According to CBC meteorologist Ryan Snoddon, a Memorial University buoy located just north of Cape Spear could be a good indication of water conditions in the area.

He said the buoy recorded gusts of 50 to 60 km/h throughoutthe day, and the maximum wave height was recorded at twometres.

• Read more from CBC Meterologist Ryan Snoddon

"I spoke to one fisherman that told me, if the boat did venture east of the point at Cape Spear, it would have likely encountered larger waves than what this buoy recorded," Snoddon said.

Survival 'very difficult'

Talking to reporters at the JRCC briefing, Eagle explained that survival in the Atlantic Ocean is "very difficult," especially without a survival suit on.

"If they find something to float on, or they can get their body out of the water, then the amount of time they can spend can become a lot more," he said.

A Cormorant helicopterfrom Gander, a Herculesaircraft from Greenwood, N.S., several fishing boats and theRoyal Newfoundland Constabulary have been assisting Coast Guard inthe search.

First responders searching for missing fishermen near Cape Spear

8 years ago

Duration 0:46

First responders, including a number of private fishing vessels, are looking for two overdue fisherman near Cape Spear. The bodies of two other fisherman were found Tuesday night.