By Carla Allen
The official search for a Shelburne County fisherman who fell overboard near Cape Sable Island ended Tuesday night and the matter has been turned over to the RCMP as a missing persons case.
The name of the missing man was not officially released but is known to be Ward Wickens, 33, of Bear Point.
Jeri Grychowski, a spokesperson with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, said the call that initiated the search had been received at approximately 5 a.m.
“Apparently he fell from the deck,” she said. The fisherman was not wearing a life jacket when he fell from the dragger Silver Angel.
A cormorant helicopter from 14 Wing Greenwood is conducted searches along with Coast Guard cutters Spray and Cape Light out of Clark’s Harbour.
At least 25 local fishing vessels took part in the search.
Weather on the scene during much of the search was low visibility with fog and 15-knot winds.
