The community support in Guysborough County has been overwhelming after a child tragically went missing, says a representative from the Search and Rescue team in the Strait Area.

Judy Burke has been with the Strait Area Ground Search and Rescue Team for about ten years and says this is one of the largest community responses she’s seen.

“We do know that many, many members of the community have been going along the shores outside of our search area. They’ve had boats out,” says Burke.

The child went missing Thursday afternoon after falling into the water in Cooks Cove while fishing with a man and another child. The man tried to save him but was unable.

An enormous search effort was then put into action in the air, on the ground and in the water, involving 13 agencies, until it was suspended around 5 p.m., Saturday.

A Facebook group searching for the child as well as MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie Greg Morrow, say he is 4-year-old Oakley.

Lots of meals

Search teams spent countless hours looking for Oakley.

To help keep emergency responders fueled up, residents had been dropping off meals.

Burke says they often get fed by communities, but this time the amount they received on Saturday, was “unreal”.

“They went out of their way supporting us. The amount of food there, the kindness of the people…even after we had fed about 40 people, there were still people from the community walking in with bags of food,” adds Burke.

In addition to the rescue teams, she says, residents have also been providing meals to the family.

“They’re supporting the family big time, I understand, with food and what have you,” says Burke.

Although, search teams are not looking on Monday, Burke says, it would not surprise her if community members were still out, themselves.

“I don’t live in the town where the search took place…but it’s just…everybody is always hoping,” says Burke.