** 81 year-old Golfer Found by Waverly SAR, Nova Scotia ***

Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 17:39:55 -0300 (ADT)
To: sarinfo@mindlink.bc.ca
From: Blair Doyle <adventur@atcon.com>
Subject: Waverley Ground SAR's latest mission.

22/07/96  GOLFER, 81, GOES MISSING

Waverley Ground Search & Rescue Team received a callout at 6:30 p.m. Monday
July 22 to a golf club located in Goffs settlement, east of the Halifax
International Airport. The manager of the golf course reported a male 81,
Earl Kent, had finished a 9-hole round of golf in the early morning and had
left his vehicle for an habitual hunt for golf balls around the perimeter
of the course. The Halifax man, who has had three heart attacks and suffers
from glaucoma, reportedly had sneakers a light shirt and pants on when last
seen around noon leaving his vehicle.

Under the direction of the R.C.M.P. and Waverley G&SAR I/C Mike Murray,
Forty-five SAR members began searching the perimeter of the course and
adjoining woods roads at  7:30 p.m. with the assistance of The Department
of Natural Resources Helicopter. With sundown occurring at  9:00 p.m.,
Waverley spotters didn't have allot of daylight to search via air.

The search ensued throughout the night primarily with type I searching.
Without having a defined PLS and a lack of any clue detection. Setting up
of confinement lines and squaring off of areas to grid the next day became
part of the taskings. The only items that were in abundance on the clear 10
degree Celsius evening was extremely rough terrain, mosquitoes, fireflys,
and golf balls. An R.C.M.P. search dog was called in to assist in the
efforts at 1 A.M.

For early morning a second D.N.R. helicopter with infrared seeking
capability was ordered in from New Brunswick as was mutual aid from East &
West Hants SAR, Truro SAR, Lunenburg SAR, and Musquodoboit SAR. But as they
were arriving Waverley G&SAR spotters accompanying a Department of Natural
Resources helicopter located Mr. Kent. He was found at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday
morning 300m on the opposite side of the road from the golf course as he
stood beside a tree waving a handkerchief. Rescuers were dispatched to his
location with a stretcher, but Mr. Kent was able to walk out under his own
steam.

Through interviewing of Mr. Kent it was revealed that he was searching for
golf balls on the opposite side of the road from the golf course. He went
deeper into the woods upon discovering the need to use the bathroom and got
disoriented. As it turned out he was an experienced hunter and woodsman who
knew after a couple of hours of wandering about he had better prepare for
an evening in the bush. He made a bed of spruce boughs, but didn't get much
sleep. At one point, he heard the faint calls of searchers and a helicopter
overhead but was too tired to call back.

Mr. Kent was doing fine and although wanted to have another round of golf
after a hearty breakfast was urged to go to the Victoria General (Hospital)
for a complete checkup.

Thanks goes out to Waverley Ground Search & Rescue, Goffs Volunteer Fire
Department, R.C.M.P., D.N.R., and E.M.O. Nova Scotia.

For further infromation contact Blair Doyle at "adventur@atcon.com"

Safety Officer
Waverley Ground Search and Rescue Team
Halifax Regional Municipality
Nova Scotia, Canada

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