UPDATED: Johnson concludes two days of testimony at Sweatman inquest
By Bruce Fuhr
West Kootenay Search and Rescue Association and swift water search and rescue team member Chris Armstrong concluded two days of testimony at the B.C. Coroners inquest into the death of swift water search and rescue volunteer Sheilah Lorraine Sweatman Thursday at the Nelson Courthouse.
Armstong told presiding coroner Matt Brown and the seven-member jury, if he had to do it all over again, he probably wouldn’t have attempted the recovery of a submerged vehicle on Goat River in June of 2011 that claimed the life of Sweatman.
While on the water on a Cataraft, Sweatman was pulled off the raft after becoming entangled in the cable when the vehicle shifted.
Sweatman was unable to free herself from the cable and later drown.
Amstrong was one of many witnesses that have appeared at the BC Coroners inquest that began Monday.
During his testimony Thursday Armstrong gave a few recommendations to the inquest, including having members carry hand held shears when working with wire cable.
The inquest is schedule to wrap up Friday with jury deliberations.
Tensions rise during Day three of coroners inquest into death of Sheilah Sweatman
Tension was at an all-time high inside the Nelson courthouse Wednesday during cross examination of witness Chris Armstrong on Day three of the B.C. Coroners inquest into the death of swift water search and rescue volunteer Sheilah Lorraine Sweatman.
Armstrong, of the West Kootenay Search and Rescue Association and swift water search and rescue, was one of the lead hands during the recovery of a submerged vehicle on Goat River in June of 2011 that claimed the life of Sweatman.
Cameron Ward, lawyer for the Sweatman family, questioned Armstrong about some of the decisions made by the rescue team, including use of steel cable to remove the car from the Goat River.
Armstrong’s explanation didn’t sit well with the Sweatman family.
“Cable was a hazard that they introduced to the system without any method of extrication,” Wynn Sweatman said outside the courthouse following the long day.
“Whether you could cut (cable) with bolt cutters is almost beside the point,” said Sheilah Sweatman’s father.
“Why would you introduce it in the first place? It’s a ridiculous argument.”
Armstrong explained to presiding coroner Matt Brown and the seven-member jury the sequence of events on that day.
It began with Armstrong, Sweatman and another Nelson SARS member driving from Nelson to Creston on the morning of June 29 to meet with rest of the 21-person SARS team.
After consulting with site manager Cpl. Shelley Livingstone of the Creston RCMP and the other SARS members, the group set up to recover the vehicle.
While on the water on a Cataraft, Sweatman and a partner from the Nelson Search and Rescue team used a drop-down camera lowered into the water to see if anyone was still in the vehicle.
Then, after the hooking of the cable the vehicle shifted pulling Sheilah Sweatman into the water where the Winnipeg native became entangled in the steel cable.
Sheilah Sweatman was unable to free herself from the cable.
Rescue attempts proved to be fruitless and 15 minutes later Sweatman drown.
Ward questioned Armstrong as to why there was no backup plan in case a member became entangled and why there was no rescue boat up stream.
“I think some of the evidence that was presented in terms of hazardous situation that Mr. Armstrong has worked were pretty convincing,” Wynn Sweatman explained. “We believe they should have had a floatation device upstream that would have enabled them to get to Sheilah.”
“And they had no plan to deploy,” he added. “It should have been sitting on the shoreline. It would have been up stream.”
Outside the courthouse B.C. Search and Rescue Association President Don Bindon brushed off the notion the line of questioning was “combative” between Armstrong and Ward.
“I think there was an attempt to ask questions . . . I think some of those answers weren’t exactly what was anticipated in a normal flow of questioning where council and witnessed are engaged,” Bindon said.
“Sometimes it appears a little confrontational but I think it’s just ebb and flow of evidence questioning and answers.”
The morning session saw testimony from tow truck driver Trevor Nichol and Cpl. Livingstone, via phone.
Presiding coroner Brown also ruled not to release the video of the fatal accident seen during Tuesday’s session to the media, citing it would not be in the best interest of the family.
The motion was brought forward by Global BC and CBC-TV.
A final day of testimony is scheduled for Thursday, which is expected to include Sheilah’s father Wynn Sweatman.
Friday is set aside for jury deliberations.
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