THE SEARCH FOR MATTHEW AND KORA

The Nak'azdli Band and Citizens of Fort St James Search Operation for two lost teenagers: Kora Lee Prince aged 16 and Matthew Karey aged 19, January 2005

Welcome, the Nak'azdli Band Chief ~ Leonard Thomas, Band Manager ~ Lynne Leon, Band and Citizens of Fort St James thank you for visiting this website.

This search for Kora and Matthew was the longest ever recorded search for drowning victims in BC History and involved the use of Numerous Underwater drop cameras, A Seaeye Falcon Remotely Operated Vehicle with sonar, A Kongsberg Sector Scanning sonar and the assistance of The Fort St. James Volounteer Fire Department the Terrace and Fort St James Search and Rescue, The Fort St James RCMP and a huge number of the Nak-adzli Band and FSJ Citizens who worked on the ice, day after day, in temperatures (With windchill factor)of minus 53 Degrees.

The search lasted 54 days.


There are few words that can adequately express the strength and perserverance of the Nak'azdli Band and Community of Fort St James in achieving the recovery of the drowning victims; Matthew and Kora, whilst enduring such harsh, inclement environmental conditions and facing such a huge expanse of search area.

A further FSJ citizen lost his life in Lake Stuart this year and a sidescan system was brought in from a Government Department to search for his body.

The Nak'azdli Band Members and citizens of FSJ have accumulated a great deal of experience in open water and ice covered lake body searches and this has lead to their wish to raise money to secure the right equipment to ensure that in events like this in the future, closure is brought to grieving families as soon as possible.

Any and All Donations Welcomed

The Contact for Donations is:

Nak'azdli Band
Box 1329, Fort St. James, B.C., V0J 1P0
Phone: (250) 996-7171 Fax: (250) 996-8010

Elona Ewing Financial Controller Tel: 996-7171 ext. 278 Box 1329
Email : elonae@nakazdli.ca


The FSJ Nak'azdli Band and Citizens Open Water Search Team is freely supported in a technical, procedural and advisory capacity by the following Companies:

SubOceanic Sciences Canada Ltd. BC

Roper Resources Ltd. BC


DROWNING STATISTICS IN British Columbia 1990~1998

Bearing in mind that this area of BC has the largest area of inland open water in the form of vast lakes and numerous rivers the following statistics indicate the overall, Province wide, BC Drowning Fatalities over the years 1990 to 1998.

There were 791 drowning fatalities in BC from 1990 to 1998, this equates to an average of 87 deaths per year.

These are the percentages for Drowning fatalities by location :
Rivers 36%
Lakes 27%
Ocean 22%

As can be seen, more BC Citizens (And Tourists) drown in BC in Rivers and Lakes than in the Ocean.


IMAGENEX SIDESCAN SONAR DETAILS AND SPECIFICATIONS


Imagenex Sportscan, SideScan 'Fish'

Specifications:

Towfish: Molded polyurethane and aluminum
Ballast: Standard diver belt weights (readily available at dive centers)
Balance: By adjusting the tow point to a balance point, to accommodate for the amount of weight added or subtracted to the towfish.
Transducers: 2 x 330 kHz – Beam 1.8 (horizontal) x 60 (vertical)
Range:15M, 30M, 60M, 90M, and 120M
Depth: 30M (100 feet)
Communication: RS-232 Serial Interface
Cable: 75 feet four conductor (two for power two for telemetry) included
Software: Included Windows 95/98 included
Dimensions: 4.5 in (11cm) dia. x 32.5 in ( 80 cm)
NEW -- The Sport Scan sonar is now available as a dual frequency side scan. Low and high (330 & 800 kHz.) frequency are mouse selectable on your lap top computer. The Sport Scan plugs directly into your laptop and runs with Windows 95, 98 or ME.

Price:

Dual frequency Sport Scan c/w 75 feet of tow cable and software: $5,395.00
Single frequency Sport Scan c/w 75 feet of tow cable and software: $3,895.00
Longer tow cables are available - 200 foot tow cable: $ 875.00
SonarWeb Mosaic Software available: $2,350.00
Shipping not included.



30 meter sidescan image of artificial reef at Porteau Cove BC Canada - 800khz

The image above is a typical SideScan Sonar image. The center horizontal line represents the towed Sidescan Sonar. Image shows the sea floor to port and starboard of the towed sonar.



Nose Cone Color Camera. The Imagenex Side Scan Sonar can be turned into a Towed Video System by simply changing out the original nose cone for the nose cone camera. The Video Nose Cone Camera and all required cable adaptors are US $ 2,550.00 If you purchase the multi conductor tow cable both the side scan data and video image can be transmitted up the single cable.

Details and Specifications of the 881A Full Sector Scan Sonar


881A - Full Sector scan sonar


Imagenex 881A Sector Scan Specifications


881A Imagenex Sector Scanning Sonar Image