NAUFRAGE, P.E.I. — The RCMP is hoping for more co-operative weather Thursday, May 23 to resume the search for a young fisherman who fell overboard Tuesday.
Jordan Hicken, 22, of Lower Montague was fishing with his father when he ended up in the frigid water near Naufrage before 5:30 a.m.
A major search Tuesday, co-ordinated by the Halifax Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) by air and on the water, was unable to locate him.
The search was called off at about 7:30 p.m.
The JRCC handed the case over to the P.E.I. RCMP as a missing person case.
Poor conditions hampered RCMP efforts to conduct a continued, co-ordinated search Wednesday for Hicken, said Sgt. Chris Gunn.
Gunn said police hope to resume the search for Hicken Thursday.
“He’s a true, blue fisherman. Fishing and hockey are his life.’’
-Jerry Compton
If the weather co-operates, RCMP will deploy a ground search along the coastline in the morning.
RCMP dive teams from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia will also take part.
The Coast Guard plans to assist with a large vessel, and the RCMP will send up drones to scour the area.
Tuesday’s search and rescue effort saw many fishermen take to their boats. A fixed-wing aircraft and a Cormorant helicopter also assisted.
The Souris and St. Peters fire departments, along with the Coast Guard, joined in the collective mission.
Family members and friends gathered for several hours near the shore waiting anxiously for word on Hicken’s fate.
Jerry Compton told The Guardian that his nephew Hicken has been fishing for roughly seven years.
“He’s a true, blue fisherman,’’ said Compton. “Fishing and hockey are his life.’’
Jillian Reynolds described her cousin as an outgoing young man who loves being around people.
“Just a really nice guy,’’ she said.
RELATED:
