Residents of the small community of Portugal Cove South on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula awaited news on Tuesday in the search for missing resident Loyola Hartery, as police reported a body had been found at sea earlier during the day.
Shortly after 2:30 p.m. NT, police said in a statement that a commercial vessel discovered a body in the ocean near Witless Bay, about 100 km north of Portugal Cove South.
Hartery, 68, was last seen early Friday morning leaving his home in the Southern Shore community on his ATV.
An extensive search took place over the weekend, including ground searches of the southern tip of the Avalon Peninsula by Central Avalon Ground Search and Rescue, aerial searches by the Canadian Armed Forces 103 Squadron at from Gander, Government Air Services and Civil Air Search and Rescue. Association. In addition, the Canadian Coast Guard searched the shoreline between Chance Cove Park and west of Trepassey.
On Tuesday, the RCMP said their search efforts were exhausted, meaning the search is officially called off.
Community members and volunteers had continued with theirs, Mayor Clarence Molloy told CBC News.
An RCMP official said the force was “unable to speculate on a link” and police were waiting for the chief medical examiner’s office to identify the body.
Molloy said he spoke with Hartery’s family and were told police were on their way to the community to meet with the family.
“The way they mentioned him to me, they feel like he’s their brother,” Molloy told CBC News on Tuesday afternoon.
“We hope [that] it’s him. At least it would be closing time for the family… They’ve been constant all weekend searching from here.”
“The community gathered here”
Molloy described Hartery as an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing, as well as a well-known member of the community who helps anyone he can.
“He’s always there to help people. Move their pots. In the winter, he’d have the plow on his bike and plow the driveway for people,” Molloy said.
He is well known and well liked, he keeps up to date with everything… He will be missed by the community, you know?
Molloy said people brought food to the community center throughout the search to feed the volunteers. “The community gathered here, which like most places in Newfoundland does the same thing,” he said.
RCMP said while active search efforts have been suspended, anyone with information or possible sightings can contact Ferryland RCMP and any new information will be investigated.
Police are also asking cabin owners in the Portugal Cove South area to check trail cameras.
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