Searchers call for more rescue services in Norman Wells

Searchers in Norman Wells say the efforts to findRichard St.Germainwereseverely hampered by a lack of equipment in the community.

St. Germain's canoe capsized near Norman Wells on July15th. His body was found July 23, about 20 kilometres downstream from the town.

JohnGreatheadled the search efforts andfound the 21-year-old'sbody when flying over the area in a helicopter.

People from across theSahtutravelled to Norman Wells to searchfor the young pilot, who had recently moved to the community. Greatheadsays despite extensive volunteer efforts bythe community, the search was hindered by a lack of equipment.

"Outof this tragedy there is a renewed understanding of what we do need. We had so many volunteers but didn't have equipment, fish finders and drags, all that other stuff," he said.

Greatheadsaidthe town had to bring in equipment from Fort Good Hope and Tulita and the local welder madecustom-made equipment to help with the week-longsearch.

"He'd drop everything and provide us with what we needed. Fabricate a lot of stuff and spend hours of research. But having said that, we got off to a slow start."

He says that equipment and the experience means people in Norman Wells are better prepared to help other communities in the region in distress.

"It's going to happen again, that river has taken a lot of lives."

But he says the insurance needed to start up a local search and rescue non-profit group could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

St. Germain's father Laval has set up a river rescue fund in Richard's name. He hopes it willpay for the equipment and training people in Norman Wells need.

"As well as life jackets simply suspended in trees so if someone jumps in a boat. If Richard had a lifejacket on, this would have been a really good story but now its a horrible tragedy just from that one omission, and we dont want that to happen ever again."

Richard St. Germain's funeral will be held Tuesday evening in Calgary.