By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Sonar assisting search for boy presumed drowned

Jul 9, 2018 | 12:58 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Day three of the recovery effort for a missing teen in the Oldman River saw divers searching specific locations Monday, July 9.

Dana Terry, deputy chief of support services for Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services, said a part arrived Sunday for their sonar unit, and the remainder of the day was spent scanning the bottom of the river for potential locations, in the north-side Alexander Wilderness Park.

WATCH: Dana Terry of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services speak with reporters

“We had a couple of hits where we believed that would be good to dive today,” Terry told reporters late Monday morning. “It was getting too late to dive, and our divers were tired. They’re diving on those positions today. Nothing yet this morning, as of this time right now, but they’re out there right now, diving right now.”

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An interview with a witness also helped the water rescue team narrow down the location. It’s believed the youth was with a group of people walking in the river, and it’s possible he was swept into a hole.

“The challenge with that area is, there’s big rocks there as well, and that can show up on the sonar unit as well, so you have to dive it to make sure,” Terry explained. “Varying depths, anywhere from 10 feet to four feet, three feet, obviously those ones you could see from the surface, but the depth, the visibility is not the greatest.”

The recovery effort currently involves a team of seven people. He says they want to give the boy’s family closure, and until they do, it’s tough.

“There’s no question they would like to go longer and harder, but their bodies can only take so much, and they’re tired as well.”

The park remains closed to the public. It’s only accessible from a road in Legacy Ridge, and the gate to that road is locked while the search takes place. Terry said they’ll have to evaluate the situation based on what happens Monday.