Manitoba-based Hutterite dive team deploys to Okanagan Lake for search of missing paddleboarder

Manitoba-based Hutterite divers are deploying to Okanagan Lake in British Columbia to assist in the search for a missing paddleboarder, Kyle Yrjola. The Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team, or HEART, has been called upon to provide specialized underwater search and recovery equipment at the request of Yrjola’s family. The search began on Sept. 22 when Yrjola went missing while paddleboarding with a woman near Fintry Provincial Park and Carr’s Landing.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) continues to support the RCMP investigation and search efforts, utilizing sonar, K9 units, air, drone, and water-based techniques. COSAR noted that the depth of Okanagan Lake limits the extent of underwater searching without specialized equipment. HEART’s founder and dive team coordinator, Paul Maendel, explained that the team will use a remotely-operated vehicle, akin to an underwater drone, to scan the lake’s depths without requiring divers to go beyond their risk capabilities.

The team’s divers typically operate within a depth limit of about 36 metres, which is less than some parts of Okanagan Lake. Maendel stated that they will deploy the towed sonar equipment to scan the lake’s bottom using GPS coordinates from the 911 distress call that alerted the RCMP to the incident. This approach aims to maximize efficiency and safety in the search.

While Hutterites are often associated with farming, the Oak Bluff Hutterite Colony in southern Manitoba has a history of diving in a gravel pit, a practice that has evolved over decades. Paul Maendel noted that the team initially engaged in commercial diving for tasks like fixing pumps and irrigation systems. Over time, they began assisting in search and rescue operations, including helping a family in Saskatchewan find closure after a drowning incident.

The HEART team, which includes members not all of whom are Hutterites, has demonstrated a commitment to using their skills for community service. Their involvement in the Okanagan Lake search reflects a broader tradition of using practical expertise for the benefit of others, aligning with the biblical principle of caring for one another, as seen in Micah 6:8.

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