Life is fleeting, live it to the fullest
On Thursday night, I got a call from my mother saying my stepfather, who was bringing a 49 foot tug to Halifax, had to abandon ship at 10pm. The coast guard was looking for them.
An hour later, I called again, and she told me they were aboard the rescue ship, and were being assessed.
20 minutes later, I got a call from my aunt, telling me my stepdad and the man travelling with him didn't make it.
As it turns out, they were found by an Air Force rescue helicopter first, they waved at the heli, and the air force hovered overhead, and did nothing. They decided that they should wait for the coast guard.
The coast guard ship (boats aren't real fast, btw) arrived 15 minutes after the helicopter arrived on scene, and Larry Parsons (my stepdad) and Wade Oram (the young father of 2) were dead by the time they were pulled from the water.
Wade leaves behind a wife and 2 small daughters.
Larry leaves behind all of us. My mother, me, my 3 brothers and sister, 3 of his own children,and many grandchildren. None of us will ever be the same.
Imagine floating in the water for an hour and a half, in absolute darkness, in the frigid north atlantic, wearing wet survival suits. You see a light. It's a rescue craft! We're saved!!! Then your saviour hovers overhead, not dropping a line, not dispatching a diver to help you harness up to be lifted to the craft. You stare at the heli, silently pleading to be removed from the cold, cold water. You succumb to hypothermia, close your eyes, and fall asleep, wondering why your would be rescuers do nothing. Do you think of your loved ones?
The Canadian air force base in Gander, Newfoundland deployed the helicopter, which was fully equipped for rescues such as what was required. Why was nothing done? I though it was "Search and Rescue", not "Search and Check Up On You".
I want to know who the dummy is who made the decision to not lift them from the water. I hope he gets cancer. I hope he drowns in his bathtub. I want vengeance.
Larry is being buried today. In Lumsden ,Newfoundland. He was the Mayor. He was loved and respected by all. He lived a full, wonderful life. I'm wondering how we can live ours without him.
An hour later, I called again, and she told me they were aboard the rescue ship, and were being assessed.
20 minutes later, I got a call from my aunt, telling me my stepdad and the man travelling with him didn't make it.
As it turns out, they were found by an Air Force rescue helicopter first, they waved at the heli, and the air force hovered overhead, and did nothing. They decided that they should wait for the coast guard.
The coast guard ship (boats aren't real fast, btw) arrived 15 minutes after the helicopter arrived on scene, and Larry Parsons (my stepdad) and Wade Oram (the young father of 2) were dead by the time they were pulled from the water.
Wade leaves behind a wife and 2 small daughters.
Larry leaves behind all of us. My mother, me, my 3 brothers and sister, 3 of his own children,and many grandchildren. None of us will ever be the same.
Imagine floating in the water for an hour and a half, in absolute darkness, in the frigid north atlantic, wearing wet survival suits. You see a light. It's a rescue craft! We're saved!!! Then your saviour hovers overhead, not dropping a line, not dispatching a diver to help you harness up to be lifted to the craft. You stare at the heli, silently pleading to be removed from the cold, cold water. You succumb to hypothermia, close your eyes, and fall asleep, wondering why your would be rescuers do nothing. Do you think of your loved ones?
The Canadian air force base in Gander, Newfoundland deployed the helicopter, which was fully equipped for rescues such as what was required. Why was nothing done? I though it was "Search and Rescue", not "Search and Check Up On You".
I want to know who the dummy is who made the decision to not lift them from the water. I hope he gets cancer. I hope he drowns in his bathtub. I want vengeance.
Larry is being buried today. In Lumsden ,Newfoundland. He was the Mayor. He was loved and respected by all. He lived a full, wonderful life. I'm wondering how we can live ours without him.