Massive search for boy turns to recovery effort
Police tell family signs involving mother, son point to swim accident
Darcy Pantel described FORT QU’APPELLE his nephew as a very active seven-year-old boy who had been spending his summer vacation visiting the beach as much as he could.
“This was an everyday occurrence, absolutely,” said Pantel, as he worked from a relative’s home Monday, a makeshift headquarters for volunteer search efforts to find Greagan Geldenhuys.
“The whole experience is rather surreal. Very difficult, but we haven’t really had time to think too much or grieve. At this point we’re concerned more about Greagan and trying to find him,” said Pantel.
After the child’s 47-year-old mother, Tamaine, was found dead in the area this weekend, the tragedy was compounded when it was discovered Greagan was missing. The boy and his mother were last seen at B-say-tah beach Friday afternoon. Then on Saturday afternoon, Tamaine’s body was found on a beach near the campground at Fort Qu’appelle.
Pantel, who travelled to Fort Qu’appelle from Saskatoon to help with search efforts, said he was told by police Sunday night that they believe a swimming accident led to the death of his sister Tamaine and the disappearance of Greagan.
Late Monday afternoon, the RCMP issued a statement indicating the search for Greagan had turned into a “recovery mission.”
Recovery efforts on Monday were focused on the beach at Bsay-tah, where the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team could be seen combing the water.
In that same area, Pantel said police found personal belongings of Greagan and Tamaine that included towels, swimming goggles, clothes and a phone. Officers also found a camera, which they were able to open and see photos of Greagan.
Fort Qu’appelle RCMP, RCMP Search and Rescue, Fort Qu’appelle Fire Department, Ministry of Environment Conservation Officers were put on standby for a continued ground search if required, but a ground search by the RCMP Police Dog Services Monday morning located nothing to further the investigation.
“Currently everything is pointing towards a swimming accident, so we’re focused currently on the water until we hear something back on the autopsy, which may open up other concerns,” said Pantel.
“But at this point everything is appearing like it’s a swimming accident.”
Tamaine and her son Greagan resided in nearby Lebret, where she worked in the alternative health industry.
Pantel said his sister had been in contact with family right up until the hour she went missing.
According to RCMP, at this time, there is no evidence to support foul play in the death of Tamaine or disappearance of her son.
In addition to the police efforts, a search for Greagan is also underway by family members and volunteers from the community. A steady stream of volunteers arrived Monday at the backyard of a relative’s home in Fort Qu’appelle.
Pantel said more than 100 people have volunteered since Saturday to walk the shorelines, looking for any trace of Greagan. Pantel has also been running a Facebook page to help co-ordinate the search efforts. He’s seen an outpouring of messages from people offering support and best wishes.
While Pantel sat at a laptop managing communications, his brother Chris was looking at a map of the lake and helping direct volunteers to search areas.
One of those volunteers was Regina resident Jason Zaphe, who left work for the day to help. Zaphe heard about the search through his office manager, who is related to the family by marriage. As a father of three, Zaphe said he had to help.
“I just couldn’t imagine it. It’s just something I could not handle not knowing. I’m one of those guys that just needs answers. And just to say that I sat back and did nothing, I couldn’t do that,” said Zaphe.
Fort Qu’appelle RCMP Sgt. Drew Wagner said if Greagan was not found on Monday, police would begin aerial searches and continue searching the lake by boat.
Anyone with any further information is asked to call Fort Qu’appelle RCMP at 306-3322222.