*** 47 year old Swimmer Recovered, Deceased, by Dive Team ***

Subject:  HRSAR's Latest Recovery
  Date:   Mon, 14 Jul 1997 11:52:54 -0400 (EDT)
  From:   Blair Doyle <adventur@atcon.com>
    To:   sarinfo@mindlink.bc.ca

9th July '97... 47 year old swimmer recovered, deceased, by Dive Team 

Halifax Regional Search and Rescue received a callout from Tantallon
R.C.M.P. at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9. Reported missing was 47 year
old Nancy Richardson, who went for a swim in Rafter Lake, just below Big
Indian Lake. The remote area is located 8.5 km off 103 Highway west of
Halifax. 

The subject apparently left a companion in his vehicle on the shoreline
and went into the fog-shrouded lake alone for a quick dip about 7 p.m..
When she failed to return her companion called the R.C.M.P.. HRSAR had to
delay taskings till 12:00 a.m. midnight until a PLS could be determined. 

With Tim Walker as the R.C.M.P. I/C and Ken Hill as HRSAR's Search Manager
for evening teams began Type I and II searching the shorelines and
adjacent woods to the east and west sides of a trail that leads to the
lake. The taskings covered areas up to the dam at the south end of Big
Indian Lake a kilometer away. Although the temperatures were warm, it was
a very dark night with thick fog blanketing the area throughout. Team One
found clothing confirmed to be that of the subjects along the East end of
Rafter Lake, further confirming the PLS. 

Two R.C.M.P. Dive Team members began a cursory search from the lakeshore
at 11:00 p.m. and dove through till 1:30 a.m.. Taskings were complete by
3 a.m. and the search was suspended until daylight.  

Thursday, July 10th: The search resumed at 7:00 a.m. with the arrival of
the Canadian Coast Guard with a watercraft. They began surface searching
throughout the lake. The water was only 15 - 20 ft. deep and the
visibility to depth was fair. With some daylight and a little less fog
R.C.M.P. I/C Tim Walker and HRSAR Search Manager Fisher MacKay had teams
tasked to re-search the shorelines in search of any clue that the subject
may have exited the water. No clues were detected. The Dive Team continued
searching with a full compliment of 12 members at 10:00 a.m. and recovered
the subject's body at 1:30 p.m., approximately 200m south from the
shoreline Point Last Seen. 

Thanks goes out to Halifax Regional Search and Rescue, Tantallon R.C.M.P.,
the R.C.M.P. Dive Team, and the Canadian Coast Guard.

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

Safety Officer
Halifax Regional Search and Rescue
Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada.

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