Workers at the Hope for Wildlife animal rehabiliation centre in Seaforth are mourning a fisherman from the community who was lost at sea.
Reid Steward Patterson, 58, was swordfishing on the boat Miss Grace with two other people when he fell overboard at about 10 p.m. Thursday.
The boat, which fishes out of Three Fathom Harbour on the Eastern Shore, was about 65 kilometres southeast of Halifax when Patterson went missing.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax called off the search for Patterson on Friday at 8:45 p.m., almost 23 hours after the call for help was received.
The search was handed over to RCMP, who said the matter is being treated as a missing personscase.
In a Facebook post Saturday, the animal rehab centre said Patterson was founder Hope Swinimer’s “partner in life and an irreplaceablepart of making Hope for Wildlife what it is today.Many of the buildings, animal units and flightcages wouldn’t exist without Reid’s hard work, ingenuity and dedication to saving Nova Scotia’s wild animals. Reid had an irrepressible
spirit and an indomitable will. He loved fishing, carpentry, motorcycles and German beer. He is sorely missed by all who knew him. Hope for Wildlife will never be the same.”
The message said everyone at Hope for Wildlife was devastated by the news “but must continue our work.” The centre remains open as usual for wildlife emergencies and public tours.
“While Hope has chosen to live a very public life, Reid was never one for the spotlight,” the post said. “We ask you to respect everyone’s privacy at this time.”
