A group of Hutterite divers from Manitoba is on their way to Okanagan Lake to search for a missing paddleboarder from September. The team, known as the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART), is deploying their specialized underwater search and recovery equipment at the request of Kyle Yrjola’s family. Yrjola disappeared while paddleboarding with a companion between Fintry Provincial Park and Carr’s Landing.
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) is collaborating with the RCMP in the ongoing search efforts for Yrjola using various techniques, including sonar, K9 units, drones, and water-based searches. Due to the lake’s depth, COSAR faced limitations in their underwater search capabilities, prompting the involvement of HEART.
HEART’s founder, Paul Maendel, mentioned that their team utilizes a remotely-operated vehicle resembling an underwater drone, eliminating the necessity for divers to enter the deep waters. Maendel explained that their diving depth is restricted to about 36 meters, while parts of Okanagan Lake exceed this depth.
The team intends to scan the lake bottom using a towfish sonar based on the GPS coordinates received from the distress call made to 911. Despite being recognized for farming, Hutterites, particularly the Oak Bluff Hutterite Colony in southern Manitoba, have a history of diving in a gravel pit for various purposes before transitioning into search and rescue operations.
The HEART team, which includes both Hutterites and non-Hutterites, underwent public safety diving training to enhance their skills in recovering drowning victims. Maendel emphasized that their missions are emotionally significant, reflecting their faith-based commitment to helping those in need, as encapsulated in their motto of being there for each other and their neighbors.
