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Nova Scotia

Remains believed to be final missing victim of historic N.S. floods have been found

A bodybelieved to be that of Terri-Lynn Keddy, 14, has been found some 75 kilometres from wherethe vehicle she wastravelling in was swept away and submerged during historic flooding.

West Hants mayor confirms the youth was Terri-Lynn Keddy

Mayor hopes community will remember 'angels up above,' after remains of N.S. youth found

1 year ago
Duration 2:40
RCMP said on Wednesday that the remains believed to be of a youth missing in the Nova Scotia floods have been found. The youth was in a vehicle on July 22, when it was swept away and submerged.

A bodybelieved to be that of ayouth who went missing near Brooklyn, N.S.,has been found, some 75 kilometres from wherethe vehicle they weretravelling in was swept away during last month's historic flooding.

West Hants Regional Municipality Mayor Abraham Zebianconfirmed to CBC News the youth wasTerri-Lynn Keddy, 14.

The RCMP said her remains were discovered on Tuesday morning by a personwalking their dog along the shoreline ofAdvocate Harbour, located across the Minas Basinonthe Bay of Fundy.

RCMP Supt. Sean Auld told a news conference Wednesday that police are working with theMedical Examiner's Officeto identify the remains.

A girl in a red baseball cap smiles at the camera.
Terri-Lynn Keddy, 14, died after being swept away by floodwaters in historic flooding that devastated Nova Scotia on July 22, 2023. (Abraham Zebian/Facebook)

"I can't imagine the loss and pain that the youth's family has felt," said Auld."No words can describe the sympathy that we feel for each of the families who've been so deeply affected by the floods."

Four people, including a man, two children and a youth went missing on July 22 after their vehicles became submerged in floods in the Brooklyn area of West Hants Regional Municipality.

Last week, search teams recovered the bodies of the man and two children, who have been identified as Nicholas Holland, 52, and Natalie Harnish and Colton Sisco, both six years old.

The RCMPhave said the two children had been travelling in a truck with adults, and a second vehicle was carrying the adult and youth.Police believe the victims were trying to flee the area at the time.

Zebiansaid it was both a sad and happy day: Sad because of the loss of four community members, but happy because the final victim is "back home."

"They are where they should be. They are with their families now," said an emotional Zebian.

"As you see their pictures online and in memorials, remember their faces. Each and every single one of them was an independent individual who was part of our knit, part of our fabric, and will always be part of us.

"The whole community has become your family."

A photo of a smiling boy, a smiling little girl and a man with glasses.
Six-year-old Colton Sisco, left, six-year-old Natalie Harnish, centre, and Nick Holland, 52, died during the floods that devastated parts of Nova Scotia on July 21 and 22, 2023. (Arbor Memorial/Ronald A. Walker Funeral Homes)

On Monday, the search for the missing youth was temporarily suspended to allow the remaining water in the search area to drain.

RCMP Sgt. Rob Frizzellsaid the remains were located about 75 kilometres from where the youth went missing. But the remainslikely travelled closer to 100 kilometres as they were carried along tributaries and rivers.

"The sheer volume of water and the sheer force of that water coming through ... it's never happened before around here, but it just pushed objects, whether that be vehicles or trees or deceased persons, quite a distance," he said.

Premier Tim Houstonthanked all the first responders for their efforts in locating the missing people and during the historic rainfall, which dropped upwards of 250 millimetres on parts of the province in less than 24 hours.

"We'll never know many lives you saved, people that were stranded that yourescued andother crises that you averted," said Houston.

"My sincerecondolences to the families of the four lost souls. You'll be forever held in our hearts andthe very sad legacy of these of these floods."

A provincewide state of emergency was declared following the flooding on July 21 and 22, with West Hants, East Hants, the Halifax Regional Municipality, Lunenburg County and Queens County among the hardest hit areas.

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