By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The body of 41-year-old Tom Dennehy from Oliver, BC who drowned in Osoyoos Lake on July 25, 2022 has been found, prompting the family to express their gratitude for the “support and kindness,” of the RCMP, friends and the wider community.
Members from the RCMP E Division and National Division underwater recovery team (URT) located and recovered Dennehy’s body at approximately 10:30 a.m., on August 3, 2022.
He was located in 24 metres of water approximately 120 metres from where he was last seen, according to Sgt Jason Bayda, Commander of the Osoyoos RCMP
Tom Dennehy with his two dogs. The Oliver resident went missing after jumping off his boat in Osoyoos Lake to aid one of the dogs who was in distress. Photo from JustGiving.com crowdfunding website.
Dennehy was located through the use of a side scan sonar, a system that is towed behind the police vessel near the bottom of the lake and reflects a sonar image back to the operators on the vessel.
“The Osoyoos RCMP were in regular communication during the search with Tom’s Mom and brother who travelled from France and the United Kingdom,” said Bayda adding, “and will continue to offer our support to his family after they return home.”
“Tom was well known in the community and the Osoyoos RCMP would like to express our deepest condolences to Tom’s family and friends.”
In an email to the Times Chronicle on behalf of the whole family, Tom Dennehy’s mother Ruth Dennehy thanked the RCMP, Tom’s friends including those at Area27 as well as the wider community for their “support and kindness.”
“Tom’s body was successfully recovered yesterday 3rd August after an incredible search effort by RCMP E Division Provincial Underwater Recovery team and members from the Underwater National Recovery Team,” Ruth Dennehy said.
“We would like to thank them enormously for their tireless work and determination to continue looking. Special thanks go to Sgt Jason Bayda RCMP who has liaised with us throughout the process, his professionalism and kindness have helped us cope with our deep sense of loss.”
“Thanks also to Tom’s friends and members of the wider community in Oliver and the surrounding area for their support and kindness and of course to everyone at Area27 where Tom spent so much happy time.”
Tom Dennehy’s sister Sarah Hendry had started up a crowdfunding page on JustGiving.com recently, anticipating that at some point the official search would end and the family might need to organize a search themselves.
“We know that you have shared this emotional journey with us and continue to mourn with us,” she wrote on the crowdfunding page. “However, the private search for which this money was intended is no longer necessary so we have decided that we cannot accept the donations.”
“We are overwhelmed by the support and love offered by his friends, family and the wider community,” she writes and because the JustGiving.com donation page has a 30-day minimum for its pages, the family is asking people to not make any further donations and any that have already been made will be refunded by JustGiving.com.
“Thank you all again from Ruth, Noel, Sarah and Joe Dennehy and of course our beloved Tom. xx,” she wrote.
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