Peggys Cove underwater search for body stalled by poor conditions

An RCMP underwater recovery team won't be diving in the waters off Peggys Cove on Thursday to search for the body of a 25-year-old Ontario man who was swept from the rocks on Wednesday.

Const. Darryn Sampson says seas are too high, which could put the police dive team at risk.

"We're going to come back tomorrow morning, have a look, see what it's like and given the conditions we will be in the water tomorrow doing our search," he said.

RCMP say the man was standing on the rocks when a large wave swept him into the ocean. Emergency crews scrambled to the scene but were unable to find him.

Sampson said a Cormorant helicopter dispatched Wednesday by the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre dropped flares at the spot where the man disappeared to indicate the direction of the current.

"We have what we call a hot spot or a high area of probability," Samson said. "We'll be searching that area."

The helicopter was joined in the search Wednesday by an Aurora aircraft. A lobster boat also patrolled the shoreline before the search was called off for the day around 6 p.m.

There are no plans for an aerial or ground search on Thursday, officials said.

The identity of the man has not been disclosed.