Less than 48 hours after being reported missing, divers have recovered the body of a Cape Breton woman who was believed to have fallen through thin ice covering New Waterford Lake while cross-country skiing.
Police were called around 9 p.m. Saturday after the 48-year-old New Victoria woman failed to return home.
A K9 unit, local fire departments, and Ground Search and Rescue crews searched the New Waterford Lake area Saturday evening.
Members of the Cape Breton Regional Police dive team joined the search Sunday morning.
Members of the dive team found a body in the lake around 10:40 a.m. Monday. Police say the woman’s identity will be confirmed through the medical examiner’s office, but they believe the body is that of the woman who was reported missing.
Police say they are still in the recovery stages, but foul play is not suspected in the woman’s death.
“Obviously the lady will be going to the capable hands of the medical examiner’s office,” says Staff Sgt. Ken O’Neill of the Cape Breton Regional Police. “Notification has been done to family and obviously they’re distraught. They will be awaiting the findings from the medical examiner’s office.”
CTV News has learned the woman is Debbie Lee Pearson, a well-known advocate in her community and a critical voice in saving the Low Point Lighthouse.
“I’m feeling heartbroken as well as the whole community does,” says friend Melanie Sampson. “Debbie Lee was such a wonderful community member…very full of life, full of spunk, always had a smile on her face.”
Lawrence MacSween was also a friend of Pearson and says he’s in total shock.
The two volunteered together on the Low Point Lighthouse Preservation Society, which was spearheaded by Pearson. The group was able to win funding to save the community’s historic lighthouse.
“A true lover of life, absolutely you could tell just when you talked to her,” says MacSween. “Her smile and her eyes would light up with anything she talked about, especially project that were near and dear to her.”
The lake where the body was recovered is also the water supply for New Waterford and surrounding area. CBRM water utility has issued a statement saying they are confident there has been no compromise to the integrity of drinking water.
Meanwhile, Pearson is also being remembered for her career in the Coast Guard.
“I contacted the National Heritage Trust today to inform them of Debbie’s passing and to see what could be done to see if we could do something in her memory,” Sampson says.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald
