A helicopter was heard and spotted over Wallaceburg late Wednesday evening, April 10. Officials with the United States Coast Guard told the Sydenham Current that what was believed to be a ‘mayday’ call triggered a search in the area.
Petty Officer Brian McCrum, of the United States Coast Guard District 9 public affairs department, said a transmission from a male voice, which was similar to a mayday call, was received at around 10:30 p.m.
“There was some broken communication, but a male voice could be heard and it was similar to a mayday transmission,” he said.
McCrum said two other transmissions were heard from a similar sounding voice requesting radio checks.
He said an urgent broadcast was initiated and a general purpose craft was sent from St. Clair Shores to search the St. Clair River and a helicopter was deployed from Detroit.
McCrum said a search of the river between Algonac, Michigan and Walpole Island was conducted.
“There were no signs of anyone in distress,” McCrum said.
After completing their search, McCrum said the U.S. Coast Guard handed the investigation over to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton, which is a rescue coordination centre operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
McCrum added they received no reports of missing persons from the police.
An official with Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed with the Sydenham Current that no one has been reported missing.
“There was a United States Coast Guard helicopter over area waterways,” Carol Launderville, a communications officer for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said in an email.
“OPP was included in this search. There was nothing found and no one is reported missing.”
Officials with the Chatham-Kent OPP referred the Sydenham Current to the Chatham-Kent Police Service for more information.
Messages sent to the Lambton OPP have yet to be returned.
Const. Renee Cowell, public information officer with the Chatham-Kent Police Service, referred the newspaper to the Coast Guard.
“We were not involved,” Cowell said in an email.
Numerous Wallaceburg and Walpole Island residents posted on social media about the helicopter being spotted and heard over the area shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday.
We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.
