Search for Grimsby man, 46, continues
Nearly 50 co-workers, friends and family members turned up at the Beacon Harbourside Wednesday morning to help search for David Martens, a 46year-old Grimsby man who’s been missing since Saturday.
“The support is overwhelming,” said Linda Saltarelli, Martens’ aunt. “Everybody wants to help. Everybody.”
The majority of the searchers are Martens’ co-workers from Noble, a plumbing supply store in Vaughan, said Saltarelli.
“They have organized all this on our behalf to help the family, because they want to help and no one knows what to do at this point in time.”
Groups are spreading out and covering the shoreline area from Niagara Falls to Burlington, handing out thousands of missing posters made by Martens’ sons. They’re hoping to keep the public alert and find any tips that may help in their search efforts.
“We’re just digging for that little piece of information to confirm what took place that day,” said Saltarelli.
Martens’ was last seen about 3 p.m. Saturday at the kayak rental area operated by Beacon Hotel, according to Niagara Regional Police. His silver 2014 Mazda6 was located at the Beacon Boulevard hotel.
Police said detectives have reason to believe Martens may have rented a watercraft, possibly a kayak or paddleboard.
“If anything happened to him on the water, he’s an amazing, avid swimmer, he would be the one who would be OK,” his auntsaid.
For five days the family has been coming to the harbour, the last place Martens was spotted.
“It’s an out-of-body experience, to be honest… this is something you see on ‘Dateline’ and now it’s us,” Saltarelli said.
Seeing Martens’ photo in the news, she said she often has to remind herself this is really happening. There have been many tears as the family bands together, sharing stories and supporting one another.
“We just want him home. Please, David, please come home,” she pleaded.
Co-workers gathered at the harbour said they will continue to support the family and the search efforts every day. They expect today’s group to be larger.
The NRP marine underwater search and recovery unit has been working with the Canadian Coast Guard on water searches. The search has included using boats, planes, helicopters and underwater sonar.
Uniform officers are also searching along the shoreline.
Police said weather and water currents and wave action have been predominantly northerly since the time Martens went missing. Because of this, members of the public in the Greater Toronto Area of Lake Ontario area also being asked to be aware of any unoccupied kayaks or paddle boards near the shore or on the shoreline.