Missing fisherman described as "easy-going, a hard worker"

By Lori A. Mayne

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

For the Ellsworth family, the hardest part is not knowing. And not having a son and brother to mourn.

Danny Ellsworth, 26, of Tignish, P.E.I. went missing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence early Sunday, June 8. He’d been part of a crew on a crab boat from Myrick’s Shore near Tignish. The vessel started taking on water as it headed home. “My family is hanging in there,” said Danny’s brother Darrell on Monday. “Just wishing and hoping I guess you would call it.”

The vessel sank between P.E.I. and Iles de la Madeleine. Owner Casey Gavin of Seacow Pond and two other crew members were rescued and taken to Iles de la Madeleine.

The Ellsworth family understands the four men made it to the life raft but then the boat tipped onto the raft and Ellsworth went missing. “I know my mom has very strong hope,” Darrell said.

Danny is the baby of Helen Ellsworth’s two boys.

The family explained if Danny doesn’t return home to be with them, his mother would at least want him returned home to rest.

The Coast Guard called off their search late Sunday night.

Sgt. Jamie George, with the Prince District RCMP, said RCMP in Quebec would head up a missing person’s investigation with the help of the West Prince detachment. While he couldn’t speak for Quebec, Sgt. George didn’t expect a further search. “It would be very difficult to do a recovery operation in that area.”

Ellsworth’s family describes Danny as easy-going, full of life, a hard worker, a proud godfather and soon-to be uncle. He’s worked in fishing from everything from lobster to crab and mackerel and herring. “Pretty much anything that’s on the go up in the Tignish area as far as fishing wise, he’s probably done at least once,” said Darrell, who lives in Summerside.

The Ellsworth family says friends Lloyd Gavin – a fisherman who has since passed away – and his wife Florence sparked Danny’s interest in fishing. They lived on nearby Ascension Road when Danny would have lived on Palmer Road.

Darrell further credited the couple for sparking his brother’s interest in horses. Danny Ellsworth shares a hobby farm with a friend in Tignish.

Meanwhile, the three rescued men remained on Iles de la Madeleine on Monday.

They were expected home Tuesday. “I’m sure they’re very shaken up,” said Joyce-Ann Gavin, the wife Casey Gavin, one of the rescued men. “We’re just glad they’re coming home and we’re glad to see them.”

She and her mother-in-law visited the Ellsworth family. “It’s an awful tragedy,” Gavin said. “If it was us today and Casey wasn’t coming home, I’d want somebody to come and see me.” (Lori A. Mayne is a journalist with Transcontinental Media’s Journal Pioneer, which is a contributor to the Sou’Wester.)