NORTHPORT – The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team recovered the body of Ethan Reilly Sunday night.
The team found the 17-year-old’s body near the Fox Island area where crews have been searching since Reilly and Alex Hutchinson went missing Wednesday night.
Reilly’s family has been notified.
After returning to shore with Reilly, the underwater team went back out to continue their search, with efforts focused near where Reilly’s body was found, said Sgt. Neil Logan.
“They wanted to get right back out to that area where Ethan was located and get in as much time as they can tonight and right back at it early tomorrow morning if they don’t find anything tonight.”
Reilly, Hutchinson and Max MacIsaac were in a dory when it capsized Wednesday night. MacIsaac swam to shore and called 911.
The search has been difficult for everyone involved, but to have found one of the teens brings a bit of hope.
“It’s been tough,” said Logan. “It’s been a really tough few days, but hopefully we, like I said, have some luck tonight and locate Alex there for the family.”
Beyond the RCMP team, the community has been doing all it can to help in the efforts, said Logan.
“Tons of support by the community up there and everybody’s kind of doing what they can to help out. The fire departments up there have been great, the ground search and rescue who came out have been amazing and all the fisherman who volunteered to go out.”
Those volunteers haven't slowed down at all and Sunday saw the most out since the start of the search on Thursday, said Alberton Mayor David Gordon.
“There was a lot of people in the back river today. I was even down there myself today.”
Now, everyone's sights are on finding Hutchinson, he said.
“The community’s coming together pretty good through a time of tragedy and hopefully they can find the other fella here in the next little bit because everybody’s got to be starting to get tired.”
The RCMP Underwater Recovery Team will remain out Sunday night until it gets too dark to continue and continue again Monday, if needed, said Logan.
“We’re going to do as much as we can until we can’t do it anymore.”
