On Saturday, June 1st (2024), several volunteers with kayaks and the co-founder of ‘Please Bring Me Home‘, Nick Oldrieve, met at Denny’s Dam in Southampton. They were there to begin another search for missing person, Lijun S.
On January 27th (2024), Lijun went missing from the Dennys Dam area in Southampton Ontario. He is believed to have been fishing along the water that morning when at some point a surge of river water and ice occurred. There were other members of the public also fishing at that time who narrowly escaped the surge, however it is believed that Lijun was unable to.
According to Oldrieve, this is the sixth visit to the area, that previously included MacGregor Point Provincial Park, Lake Huron and the Saugeen River. “We are focusing on the river today and we are just trying to throw everything we can into this search as we don’t want this to become a ‘cold case’. He’s somewhere right now and we just want to find out where that somewhere is.”
Ed Johnson of Southampton knows the Saugeen River intimately having “… fished it my entire life.” Johnson advised the volunteers of the intricacies of the river and where searches could be most probable.
For larger view, click on image
‘Please Bring Me Home‘ GBHWD(Grey/Bruce/Huron/Wellington/Dufferin) Search Team, along with volunteers from the Southampton Propeller Club previously searched the shoreline of MacGregor Point and some locations within Dennys Dam. The bulk of that search took place on Sunday, May 26th. Oldrieve added that searches will continue until Lijun is located.
“Lijun went missing close to the Dam itself and was also wearing hip waders. This leaves us to consistently be looking at three to four approaches, with the most likely being that Lijun is still within the river area, or ashore south of the river mouth,” says Oldrieve. “The third involves the possible change in water direction which appeared to have been pushing North on Lake Huron for a couple of days following Lijun’s disappearance. The fourth involves the water taking Lijun out into Lake Huron a farther distance.”“We are asking anyone who travels any of these areas, to do so safely and if you see something, step back and contact Saugeen Shores Police immediately at 519-832-2500. Keep a special lookout for grey hip waders, a black winter coat and any fishing gear within these areas. We would further recommend that if you are kayaking, only do so if you are experienced and have all proper safety equipment,” Oldrieve points out.
“We would like to thank the Saugeen Shores Police Service for their continued efforts, Scott Davison, Superintendent at MacGregor Point, who granted us access for a home base, volunteers from the Southampton Propeller Club, the drone operator, kayakers and shore searchers that took the day to search for someone they have never met,” said Oldrieve.
If anyone would like to join the GBHWD search team, email: search@pleasebringmehome.com. Please state your full name, phone number and which search team you are wanting to join.
