It’s only July, and Bethel Search and Rescue has already recovered five bodies from the river this year; two were recovered in the same week. BSAR held their monthly meeting last week, partly to discuss how searchers are feeling.
The meeting began with a prayer, to reflect on the two recent body recoveries that occurred two days apart. Jim Pete, who was there when both were found, said that in his 20 years with Bethel Search and Rescue, he had never seen two recoveries back-to-back like that.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Pete said. “Same place, same area in the river. Another drowning. We just couldn’t believe it happening so quickly together.”
Asked why he thought that there were more drownings this year, he echoed what many people in Bethel have been thinking:
“Lot of it is alcohol involved I’m noticing more and more,” Pete said.
This is the first summer with a liquor store open on the Bethel riverfront, and many people say that the city is seeing the impacts in and around the river. Pete says that he and the other searchers are holding up physically, but that the work takes a toll.
“Just kind of stressful, mostly, to search back-to-back like that,” Pete said. “I mean, I wasn’t tired or nothing, just mentally you have to be prepared in this.”
Despite the recent challenges, Pete isn’t shying away. Bethel Search and Rescue is in his blood. Pete says that his uncle, Fred Pete, was the original founder of BSAR. He started the group after he lost his son. Now Pete is passing the torch to his son Jerek, who participated in the most recent search, his first.
“I’m just happy that he’s here to join,” Pete said. “You know, just younger people to take over when I’m no longer available no more.”
Jerek Pete was there when they pulled up the body of Dalton Moss, a Bethel resident. He says that he was shocked to see a body on his first search.
“It was kinda hard sleeping that first night,” said the younger Pete. “The next morning I talked to my dad about it, and he just reminded me how it’s for the other family and so we can lay them to rest.”
Jerek’s father says that providing closure for families is what’s kept him going for 20 years. The next generation is continuing that mission. At the last meeting, Jerek joined Bethel Search and Rescue as an official member.
