*** 67 year-old Fisherman Found, Drying Out in Hospital *** Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 12:05:44 -0400 (EDT) From: Blair Doyle To: sarinfo@mindlink.bc.ca 25th May 1997: Halifax Regional Search and Rescue received a callout from Halifax Regional Municipal Police Service at 5:45 p.m. Sunday May 25. Missing was 67 year old Cecile Schnare a resident of a Glades Lodge nursing home who departed on a fishing excursion Sat. at 3:30 p.m.. Staff reported him missing after 24 hours. Mr. Schnare was reported to have serious health concerns. He reportedly left on foot from the lodge with a kit bag, a fishing pole and a bottle of his favourite refreshment. HRMPS I/C Sgt. John Peach and HRSAR Search Managers Mike Murray and Tony Rodgers took hold of the evenings events. With no definitive PLS to go on investigations revealed three possible scenarios from staff members, his ex-wife and a friend at the lodge. He was fishing at Long Lake Provincial Park, or at Frederick Lake, or was at his favourite drinking hole. Given he left on foot and Long Lake Provincial Park was within walking distance from the lodge, it was decided to concentrate efforts there. It is located adjacent Cowie Hill in west end Halifax. From HRSAR command post at the southern end of Long Lake, Hasty Teams began Type I and II searching the lakeshore and surrounding lakes at 7:00 p.m.. Halifax Regional Police tracking dog team made initial entry into the area at 6:00 p.m. and turned up some clothing that was determined not to be that of the subjects. Heavy rain that began around 7:00 p.m., coupled with a moonless sky made for some very dark and difficult searching in spots. Up to 10 teams were tasked without any solid leads resulting. In all five other lakeshores were combed. Continuing interviews with acquaintances and staff by police gave a stronger indication that he was in the Frederick Lake area 15 km west off the #3 highway near Timberlea. All taskings were complete by 2:00 p.m.. Halifax Regional Municipal Police Service decided we stand down from our current mission and Tantallon R.C.M.P. called us out to the Frederick Lake area to continue the search. Monday May 26.....7:00 a.m. News bulletins posted with the media resulted in a local cab driver coming forward. The cab driver had apparently dropped Mr. Schnare off 5:00 p.m. Sat. night at a point near Frederick Lake. A Military Police member living in the area had encountered him too at 5:30 p.m. and had directed him to the lake. Teams from East and West Hants and Lunenburg were called in to assist as well. With a more definitive PLS and under the direction of R.C.M.P. I/C Tim Walker and HRSAR Search Manager Bruce MacKay; Hasty Teams began combing Frederick Lake lakeshore, it's tributaries and Five Island Lake. The Canadian Coast Guard was on site first thing and provided water search and transportation for ground crews on Frederick Lake. A DNR helicopter was delayed due to a low cloud ceiling but arrived on scene by 10:30 a.m.. The helicopter was put to work doing transportation and spotting in wooded areas and roadsides. Tracks were discovered matching that of the subjects by Team 3 at 10:00 a.m. from a bridge crossing a brook that connected Frederick and Five Island Lakes. Pursuit lead south-west along a trail towards Upper Five Bridges Lake and Hubley Big Lake two km away. Team 8 and 9 were flown into these areas in a effort to confine the subject if the tracks proved fruitful. The tracks petered out on top of a rock barren from which a spider web of trails departed. Reports came in early in the afternoon to Halifax Regional Police from passing motorists who had seen the subject along the 103 highway roadside. East and West Hants SAR were retasked to run the 103 highway to follow up on these leads. Team 11 was tasked out at 3:00 p.m. to Type III grid search from a road near the PLS 500m cross to Frederick Lake. They had just about completed it's tasking when a team member from Lunenburg SAR on an extension of his run spotted Mr. Schnare... snoring on the ground. He was found with his duffel bag, a fishing pole and bottles of his favourite swallow surrounding him. His level of consciousness was revealed by how full the bottles weren't. Besides his feet he was surprisingly dry and in good physical shape. He was evacuated to the Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre via ambulance for further assessment. This was a challenge for Search Management in that they did not have a definite PLS. It was also first for HRSAR. Changing police jurisdictions within a search had never happened before. Thanks goes out to Halifax Regional SAR, East and West Hants SAR, Lunenburg SAR, Tantallon R.C.M.P., Halifax Regional Municipal Police Service, Lakeside Volunteer Fire Dept., Department of Natural Resources, and the Canadian Coast Guard. A thank you is also extended to the media for their key role in this effort. For further information contact Blair Doyle at "adventur@atcon.com" Safety Officer Halifax Regional Search and Rescue Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. --------------------------------