
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 20, 1993                   TAG: 9307200470
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DANGER, DEPTH END LAKE SEARCH

Authorities have permanently called off their search for a 9-year-old girl who fell from a pontoon boat on Smith Mountain Lake one week ago and is presumed to have drowned.

A team of 14 divers resumed searching for Nyssa Ann McFaddin at 6 a.m. Monday. Hampered by poor visibility and trees on the bottom of the lake, they halted the search shortly after 6 p.m.

"It came down to a decision of safety," said Sgt. Ron Henry of the Game and Inland Fisheries Department. "We effectively searched and double-searched the area where witnesses said the child went into the water. The only area we felt we hadn't searched to the fullest extent reaches depths of 120 feet plus."

At that depth, divers can remain under for only five minutes at a time, Henry said. Divers also had encountered 6- to 7-foot-high stumps and entire trees up to 40 feet tall, he said.

"If divers were to become entangled, they could suffer some serious problems," Henry said.

Divers searched since the accident last Tuesday, but as they reached depths close to 100 feet, their efforts slowed. The search was halted temporarily Friday evening in anticipation of heavy weekend boat traffic.

Nyssa was on a pontoon boat with her aunt and two other people Tuesday. The foursome was coming in from an afternoon on the lake when Nyssa, riding in the bow, climbed over the railing and slipped.

Her life jacket came off as she fell underneath the boat.

Family members and rescue workers have little doubt that the girl - who had come from Indiana to visit her father, Dale McFaddin - has drowned.

"The family indicated that they are going to remain here," Henry said. "They are trying to make the best of things in hopes that the body will surface quickly."

Henry, who has been with the game department for six years, said this search is the longest he has been involved in that he has had to abandon. He expects some divers who have not given up to continue searching.

"It's been very disheartening," Henry said. "We like to accomplish what we set out to do."

Henry said an investigation will continue. He asked that people on the lake near marker B-1 who see anything out of the ordinary "take time to check it out or notify the nearest sheriff's office."

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB