As families were anxiously awaiting word from the RCMP on a recovery operation, a father of one of the lost fishermen says a team of private divers is heading to the scene.
George Hopkins, the father of missing fisherman Joel Hopkins, says a team of divers from eastern Nova Scotia are on their way to search the Miss Ally.
Families of the five fishermen have been pressing for action to have the capsized boat searched by divers.
Hopkins was told it was too difficult and dangerous to either flip or search the vessel.
“It was a beautiful day yesterday,” said Hopkins. “Why couldn’t they have done it then?”
Hopkins received a call from an eastern Nova Scotian fisherman who told him there was a team of salvage divers ready if Hopkins wanted them.
“They have already left and are on their way,” he said.
The RCMP has set up a command centre in Woods Harbour and was expected to decide its next actions later today.
The search for the 45-foot Miss Ally began Sunday night after an emergency locator beacon was activated at 11:06 p.m. about 120 kilometres south of Liverpool.
A life raft, spotted the next morning by and aircraft, was not seen again. The hull of the capsized vessel was located by searchers. — Shelburne County Coast Guard
