ST. LAWRENCE, N.L. — It wasn’t how they wanted to find him, but Isaac Kettle’s family is comforted in knowing that at least his body can finally come home.
“This is the best, worst news we could get…,” his wife Kerri Lynn Kettle said after hearing that a body found near Arnold’s Cove on the weekend is likely her husband’s.
“But it was such a relief.”
Kettle, 33, was one of four St. Lawrence fishermen lost at sea aboard the Sarah Anne, a 36-foot fishing vessel, after it set out from their hometown to go crab fishing on May 25.
“This is the best, worst news we could get..." — Kerri Lynn Kettle
While the bodies of the three other crewmen — 67-year-old Ed Norman, his son, Scott Norman, 35, and nephew Jody Norman, 42, were recovered a short time later from the frigid waters of Placentia Bay, off the coast off the Burin Peninsula on the province’s south coast, Kettle was still missing.
The Canadian Coast Guard conducted an intensive search, spanning 650 nautical miles, but days later the search and rescue operation was called off. Noting there was no possibility of survival given the time that’s passed, a spokesperson said the incident had been turned over to the RCMP as a missing persons case.
Kettle’s family was devastated, and called on the government to provide more help for the search. Last week, outside groups, including private companies Atlantic Towing and R.J.G. Construction, provided vessels to continue the search.
Clarenville RCMP and Forensic Identification Services travelled to the beach and examined the scene.
Work was underway by police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to identify the body, which was sent to St. John’s for examination.
The RCMP contacted Kettle’s family, but no positive identification had been made at that time. However, this afternoon, the RCMP confirmed that the body has been identified as Isaac Kettle.
The Kettle knew it was him when they heard the body had been found.
“Oh, it is him,” his mother, Aundriette Kettle earlier today. “We pretty well know for sure that it is Isaac because we spoke to (one of) the (Arnold’s Cove) fisherman and he described him to a T.”
She said while the family had prayed in the beginning that he would come home alive, having his body back at least eases their burden.
“It was a bit relief knowing we had him. It’s not the way we wanted him, but it’s the best news we could get at that point …,” she said, noting they hope to get final confirmation later today.
“At least now we can get closure. Before now, we would always be wondering where he was at.”
She said it’s surprising to know her son’s body ended up so far away after being missing for 12 days. She said the Sarah Anne still hasn’t been found.
However, she said she’s grateful to everyone who prayed and is supporting the family during this tragic time.
“Oh my God, we had so much support from the town, from the whole province,” she said. “We would never have been able to do this on our own. They all did this for us. We’ll never be able to repay them.”
Meanwhile, the family got some moral support over the weekend when Toronto Maple Leafs left-winger Zach Hyman left a Facebook message for Isaac’s sons, Sam and Luke.
“I know you guys are big hockey players and big Toronto Maple Leafs fans,” he said in the video, which is posted on Kerri Lynn Kettle’s Facebook page.
“So, on behalf of myself, my teammates and the entire Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization, I just wanted to let you know that we’re thinking about you guys. To the Kettle family, we’re wishing you all the best during this really hard time. Wishing you comfort and strength and just know that we’re here for you.”
