Fishers are rallying across the household of one among their very own who was misplaced at sea close to Cape Sable Island, N.S.
Kristen Malone has confirmed to CTV Information the lacking fisherman is her boyfriend, 27-year-old Christian Lee Atwood — father to a 14-month-old boy, Colson, and step-father to her two youngsters.
“His primary precedence in life was that little boy,” Malone mentioned over the cellphone. “He simply beloved that little boy a lot and he wished to do every little thing for him.”
Through textual content, Christian’s mom, Carmella Newell, described her son as a household man who beloved his brothers, dad and mom, son and girlfriend.
“He was the kindest, most superb, do something for you type of man,” Newell mentioned.
Round midday Tuesday, Halifax’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) referred to as off its seek for Atwood and handed the case over to the RCMP to be handled as a lacking individuals case.
A search started by air and water after JRCC acquired a mayday name a couple of man overboard at 8:21 a.m. on Boxing Day. An official mentioned the person had been onboard a 12-metre fishing vessel, referred to as The Little Weasel II, about 11 kilometres south of Cape Sable Island.
This tragedy is hitting fishers throughout the area exhausting.
Nathan Cooke, a consultant of Atlantic Canada Fishermen’s Affiliation, is supporting the household by coordinating and sharing a fundraiser.
“I’m simply attempting to do one thing good there. We’re so united in the neighborhood with the fishery. We type of look out for one another when one thing like this occurs, and it’s extra frequent than you assume, so it’s good to know somebody will likely be there to look out for you and your loved ones when one thing as devastating as this have been to occur,” Cooke mentioned.
Malone mentioned all the assist is overwhelming.
“It’s unbelievable how when one thing occurs, everybody comes collectively and also you’re not alone,” she mentioned.
Malone mentioned she spent Christmas with Atwood and the 2 spent the morning collectively earlier than she dropped him off for work.
“I gave him his kiss and mentioned, ‘I like you,’ and that was it,” she mentioned.
It was early within the morning then. She went again to mattress and woke as much as a textual content from him, studying, “We’re getting near setting gear hope ya have an excellent morning love ya.”
Malone mentioned quickly after, she received a name from the captain’s spouse saying Atwood had gone overboard.
“I don’t know the entire story as a result of I wasn’t on the market however I do know they tried every little thing they may,” she mentioned.
She mentioned the household is appreciative of all the efforts by the Canadian Coast Guard and different fishers to seek out Atwood.
“It was very exhausting to get that decision saying it was over as a result of it simply appears it wasn’t sufficient. It simply didn’t appear lengthy sufficient however we all know after so lengthy, it simply turns into a rescue, or a restoration, I assume,” she mentioned, noting the neighborhood remains to be looking.
“I assume it’s simply exhausting as a result of when it ends, it finalizes it extra,” Malone mentioned.
Cooke says the Atlantic Canada Fishermen’s Affiliation helps unfold the phrase a couple of belief account arrange for Colson Atwood and household. He says e mail donations could be despatched to colsonfund@gmail.com.