A group of divers from Manitoba’s Hutterite community is preparing to conduct a search in Okanagan Lake for a paddleboarder who went missing in September. The team, known as the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART), will be using specialized underwater search equipment at the request of Kyle Yrjola’s family.
Yrjola disappeared while paddleboarding with a companion between Fintry Provincial Park and Carr’s Landing on September 22. The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) has been assisting in the search efforts alongside the RCMP, utilizing various search techniques such as sonar, K9 units, drones, and water-based searches.
Due to the lake’s depth, COSAR faced limitations in conducting underwater searches without specialized towed sonar equipment. HEART’s founder, Paul Maendel, mentioned that their team is equipped with a remotely-operated vehicle similar to an underwater drone, which eliminates the need for deep-water diving.
The divers from HEART do not dive beyond 36 meters due to safety concerns, and Okanagan Lake has parts that are much deeper. Maendel explained that they plan to use a towfish sonar to scan the lake’s bottom based on the GPS coordinates from the distress call made to the RCMP by the two paddleboarders.
Although Hutterites are primarily known for farming, the Oak Bluff Hutterite Colony in southern Manitoba has a history of diving in a gravel pit for various purposes. Initially, the team did not specialize in search and rescue but later expanded their capabilities after assisting in a drowning incident on the Assiniboine River.
HEART, a faith-based non-profit organization, considers each mission emotionally significant, viewing their work as a practical application of their faith by assisting those in need. Their motto reflects their commitment to helping not only fellow Hutterites but anyone requiring support in times of crisis.