Intensive Bear Lake search yields no sign of missing teen

By Lynn Hotaling

Search dogs from Haywood County assisted in a search for 19-year-old Brian West of Cruso, who has been missing since April 17. The Haywood County resident was last seen Tuesday when his canoe capsized after he and a friend, 19-year-old Randy Largent of Whittier, encountered rough water as they attempted to return to the Bear Lake boat landing. Rescue squads from Jackson and surrounding counties, assisted by firefighters from Canada and Cullowhee and officers with N.C. Wildlife, conducted an extensive search of Canada community's Bear Lake for five straight days in an effort to find West. A decision was made Monday to scale back the recovery effort, said Ben Clawson, chief of the Jackson County Rescue Squad. - Herald photo by Lynn Hotaling

Brian West, 19, of Cruso was last seen April 17 when his canoe overturned, spilling him and a friend, 19-year-old Randy Largent of Whittier, into the lake's chilly waters.

The teens were returning from Sols Creek Falls about 5:30 p.m. last Tuesday when they encountered rough water and high winds that caused their boat to flip, said Ben Clawson, chief of the Jackson County Rescue Squad. Largent was able to reach shore on a nearby island by holding on to the capsized canoe.

Just before reaching the shore, Largent heard West call out. When he turned to look back, Largent saw his friend go under, Clawson said.

West went down about 100 yards out in the channel in an area where the water is about 90 feet deep, according to Clawson. West is thought to have disappeared between the mouths of Sols and Robinson creeks, which enter the lake from opposite sides. Both West and Largent were reported to be excellent swimmers, Clawson said, and neither was wearing a life preserver.

Once on the island, Largent removed his wet clothing and found a spot between two rocks where he could cover himself with leaves to stay warm during the night. He was not rescued

After a brief search April 18, rescue workers resumed their effort Thursday morning, when divers braved water temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees and depths of 75 to 90 feet.

"It was so cold the divers could only stay down for 15 minutes at a time, even wearing special suits," Clawson said.

At least 2 feet of silt covers the lake bottom, said Clawson, another factor that hindered divers and other searchers equipped with underwater cameras.

"When anything touched the bottom, it just clouded up," Clawson said.

The intensive search continued through Monday, April 23, when the decision was made to scale back rescue squad efforts to evenings only, Clawson said. Wildlife officers will continue to search as time permits, he said.

Members of Haywood County's Rescue Dog Team assisted searchers last week. The dogs are "cadaver dogs," Clawson said, and are trained to sniff for gasses released by bodies below the water surface. By Friday, the volunteers' search had changed to a dragging operation in an effort to recover West's body, Clawson said.

A 2000 graduate of Central Haywood High School, West was employed by Smoky Mountain Hydro Test, a Cruso business owned by his family. Darrell West, Brian's father, described the missing teen as a 'poet, philosopher, explorer and avid outdoorsman."

Darrell West expressed appreciation for all the volunteers' tireless efforts to find his son and urged those who want to support the search effort to make a contribution to the Jackson County Rescue Squad.

Local rescue squad members were assisted by squads from surrounding counties. Others who participated in the effort included firefighters from Cullowhee and Canada and officers with N.C. Wildlife. Duke Power provided an additional underwater camera on Monday, and Mission-St. Joseph's helicopter provided assistance from the air, said Mike Ensley, Jackson County's emergency services coordinator.

As many as 90 volunteers with 15 boats were on hand Saturday, Clawson said, while Sunday's total exceeded 125 with about 25 boats.

Chief Clawson expressed appreciation to all the area businesses who made donations to support the rescue effort.

Located in Jackson County's Canada community, 476-acre Bear Lake was constructed by the Aluminum Co. of America as part of Nantahala Power & Light's (now Duke Power, Nantahala Division) East Fork hydroelectric project. Work began Jan. 14, 1952, and the plant came on line March 26, 1954, producing 9,000 kw. It is the second (going upstream) of four power-producing lakes (Cedar Cliff, Bear, Wolf Creek and Tanassee Creek) on the Tuckaseigee River's East Fork.

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