Missing local resident

A local man reported missing at suppertime on Saturday after he failed to return home from an afternoon fishing near Wellington remains unaccounted for.

Just after midnight on Sunday morning Coast Guard patrols spotted the Zodiac boat belonging to  Gordon Alexander “Sandy” Rutherford, 54,  overturned on the shoreline at Garrett’s Island in West Lake.  A search of the boat revealed a personal flotation device and fishing tackle but no sign of the missing fisherman.

Bright flares lit up the evening sky on Saturday from West Lake to Huyck’s Point while search and rescue aircraft buzzed overhead looking for Mr. Rutherford. The Wellington Rescue boat crisscrossed the lake all night long looking for the man. On Sunday morning local hunters scoured the shoreline on Garrett’s Island.

Midday Sunday the search for the man was turned over to the OPP. An under water search  and recovery unit from Gravenhurst arrived Sunday afternoon and went out on the water at about 5 p.m.

Sandy Rutherford had been expected home by 6 p.m. on Saturday evening. Authorities were notified by about 6:30 p.m.  By 8 p.m.  a full search and rescue effort was underway.