TERRACE, B.C. – A specialized underwater search and rescue team from Manitoba is making the journey to Terrace to assist in the recovery mission for Thomas Kelly, who has been missing since he fell into the Skeena River on July 12.
The Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART), a non-profit search and rescue group based in Morris, Manitoba, announced they are traveling to Terrace after repeated calls from Kelly’s family and supporters for additional resources. A search update from August 13 states that HEART is expected to be joined by the Canadian Search and Disaster Dogs Association (Casdda), which has three highly trained K9 teams to assist in the efforts.
HEART’s journey comes after a month of tireless advocacy from the community and Kelly’s family. A petition for additional resources, including deep-water sonar and underwater remote-operated vehicles (ROVs), had reached nearly 1100 signatures.
The family has publicly expressed the immense emotional and logistical burden of coordinating a search while simultaneously grieving. “We have carried the burden of logistics, safety, equipment, and hope—while simultaneously navigating grief, trauma, and uncertainty,” read a statement from the family.
The arrival of the Manitoba-based teams will bring much-needed specialized resources to the search. HEART operates with a dive team, an underwater ROV, and sonar. The Casdda team will bring specialized Search & Recovery K9s and experienced handlers, a resource the family and community had been requesting.
The family’s gratitude for the new support is immense. In response to HEART’s announcement, Thomas’s wife, Shauna Kelly, wrote, “I can’t express my gratitude enough that you are coming to do everything you can to help bring my husband home.” His son, Caleb Kelly, added, “No words could express how much this mean to our family.”
As a non-profit, HEART relies on donations to fund its missions. The team’s Facebook post acknowledged they are traveling at their own expense and asked for financial support to help with the lengthy journey. A fundraising campaign for the mission has already raised over $4,500.
How to Help
For those who wish to support the search efforts, a fundraising campaign has been established to help the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART). As a non-profit, the team operates on donations and sponsorship to cover the costs of its equipment and travel.
Donations can be made at the team’s fundraising page https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CGtcU4mi6/
The teams’ efforts not only bring a renewed sense of hope to the Kelly family but also have the potential to bring closure to other families with missing loved ones in the river. Skeena News will continue to follow this story and provide updates on the search.
