The president of ground search and rescue groups in Nova Scotia says the case of the missing boy and girl in Pictou County was very, very emotional for their members.
Lily and Jack Sullivan, 6 and 4-years-old wandered away from home one week ago near Lansdown Station, about 20 km from New Glasgow.
Photo: Google Maps
Sherry Veinot with Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association tells our newsroom she has been part of the organization for decades and this case is one of the most difficult.
“I’ve been with search and rescue for 38 years now and I don’t think I’ve seen a case as emotional and really taking so much energy …emotional energy…as this one. That’s the way it is with children,” says Veinot.
She adds, even though they prepare and train for these things, it is hard to replicate a real event.
“It’s almost impossible to make that real. So, when there is a call and someone is lost or missing it’s at a whole new level,” says Veinot.
Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association/Facebook
Physical toll
Not only was the search emotionally draining, but it was also very physical.
It covered four square kilometers of rough terrain with hurricane Fiona damage, which Veinot says made it really difficult and there were some injuries.
“The terrain was very, very hard to get through. There are dead falls. Also, a lot of swampy areas,” adds Veinot.
Non-stop and no closure
More than 160 volunteers helped look for the sister and brother, putting in tens of thousands of hours for six days, until RCMP scaled the search back as they continue to investigate.
Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association/Facebook
Veinot says it is hard to explain what that felt like.
“It is on your mind 24 hours a day. So, when that’s announced, it really makes people feel down. Not that we haven’t done our job right and worked hard, just that we don’t have that conclusion,” says Veinot.
“We’re all waiting. It’s still on our mind. It’s still there, not finished.”
Not only was the case of Lily and Jack difficult, but the same volunteers helped search for the missing little boy in Guysborough and the lost kayaker who died in Pictou County Lake.
“It’s been back-to-back,” says Veinot.
To help volunteers process feelings, Veinot tells us they have arranged for stress debriefing over the next couple of days.
What do they tell new volunteers?
Ground Search and Rescue teams in Nova Scotia have about 1,200 members.
Veinot says they make sure anyone interested in signing up likes the outdoors and is able to work with others as a team.
“To have those people from all different backgrounds come together as a team. It takes a lot of working together. That’s where training comes in,” adds Veinot.
She says, it’s amazing what can happen when they work together.
As for community members, Veinot says a big “thank you”.
“We are so appreciative of everything everyone does. You may think it’s something very insignificant, but when we’re away from home and meeting new people in the community. It’s very heartwarming to know they care.”
