GRIMSBY, Ontario (3 May 2007) --Dale Metherall died doing what he loved. The 44-year-old Grimsby man, who was an auxillary member of the Grimsby Area Marine Rescue Unit, had to be rescued himself during a scuba dive May 4. He had lost consciousness and was being held above water by his diving partner and friend, who called out for help. Two women walking a dog about 4:30 p.m. heard the cry and stopped. They waved down two boats that steered toward the dock near the Grimsby Pumphouse. The men in those boats pulled Metherall out of Lake Ontario and performed CPR until emergency crews arrived. Metherall was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital, where he died from his injuries Saturday. The cause of death has not been released, but foul play is not suspected. "He was only 44 years old and very alive," said his wife, Joanne. "We had a wonderful life. We have been married 19 years, together 26 and have two daughters." Metherall grew up in Hamilton, said his wife, who is from the Niagara area. His favourite colour was yellow — the colour of his pickup truck — and he loved his two Dobermans, Cody and Cleo. He was a very active and adventurous man, Joanne said. "He didn't just scuba dive, he wakeboarded, he cooked, he was a jack-of-all-trades," Joanne said. "All the neighbours are grieving because he fixed everything for everyone." | | He also rescued people when they needed it as a member of the local marine rescue unit, which he joined 12 years ago. Members of the unit, which relies heavily on fundraising and the skills of their members to purchase and maintain the vessels, are going to miss him very much, said leader Ralph Fitzgerald. An electrician by trade, Metherall spent hours working on GAMRU 240, a custom-built red boat with a white stripe, Fitzgerald said. "Dale was instrumental in getting that boat built," he said. "That's one thing, he did a lot of work on that boat. "He was a valued and competent member and he's going to be greatly missed." Metherall is survived by his wife and his daughters Shayla and Brooke. A funeral service will be held Thursday in Grimsby. SOURCE - The StandardSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
