The family of Luc Bourgeois found the one who disappeared at sea on July 24, off Shediac. Two uncles of the deceased young man, Keith Allain and André Boudreau, express their emotions after a week of research.
Keith Allain’s house still has the traces of eight days of hard research that his family and multiple volunteers led to find Luc Bourgeois, Friday afternoon.
The kayak of the one who disappeared in the Strait of Northumberland and the life jackets loaned for observers at sea lie in the sun near the Garage de la residence in Shediac.
Mr. Allain is in the middle of them, with red eyes and an eight -day beard. He is exhausted, but happy to be able to let the emotions that have accumulated in him.
“We are proud to have brought Luc home,” said the retiree. We are relieved to have been able to find it. We would have liked him to be alive, but at least we can close this chapter. It would have been hell, otherwise. “
Solidarity community
This uncle by alliance of Mr. Bourgeois thanks all those who helped his family to seek the deceased young man. They were so numerous that he does not want to give names, for fear of forgetting one.
These volunteers took over from the underwater recovery teams and rescue on the GRC, who stopped their research after several days of effort.
“We realize that it is difficult to request professional resources all the time,” says Mr. Allain. This is why it is beautiful to see that the community can assemble and take over. We are pampered. There is a lot of love in Shediac! ”
Even residents of Prince Edward Island joined the collective effort. In all, the Facebook group on the disappearance of Mr. Bourgeois brought together more than 13,000 people.
On the ground, boaters and fishermen used their boats and motorcycle, people made donations, RCC and Coast Guard retirees offered their expertise, pilots lent two helicopters, volunteers made drones steal, etc.
“A big thank you to the members of the Pointe-du-Chêne nautical club, adds an uncle by alliance by Mr. Bourgeois, André Boudreau, who joined the conversation. They gave us their premises. ”
This is where the family and relatives of the disappeared gathered and organized, when they were not in Mr. Allain’s kitchen, to improvise centers of air and naval operations.
Late regret
The discovery of Mr. Bourgeois’s body was made on Thursday at 7:16 p.m. between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
“Luke just came to the surface when a boat arrived,” says Allain. The whole family was on the water, on three different boats. We received a call and we were all able to come to Luke to be with him until the police and the coroners arrive. ”
The RCMP does not believe that there is a criminal factor in the death of Mr. Bourgeois. She said that an autopsy would be completed to determine the exact cause of the death.
“Be careful at sea,” advises Mr. Allain. Luke had an excellent kayak. He was very strong. He had his zipped life vest. He had another in his rear compartment.
He had his cell phone. But the sea can be vicious, even when it is peaceful. ”
Mr. Bourgeois disappeared on July 24 after leaving the quay of Pointe-du-Chêne in Shediac, to fish. The 34 -year -old man leaves behind a seven -year -old boy and his two parents, Serge and Connie Bourgeois, who have already lost a son five years ago.
“Luc was very popular,” said Mr. Allain. He was a beautiful and a good young man, a talented hockey player, a good fisherman and an excellent building worker. ”
It is a whole community that cries it today.
