Meet the Water Rescue Team That Recovered the Body of a Missing South Dakota Boy

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

1 2 minutes read

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – It takes courage to ride the emotional roller coaster that comes with being part of a dive team. This is why HEART is an apt name for the Hutterite Emergency Water Response Team that was able to locate Hans Hofer's body.

Paul Maendel – a member of the HEART team – saw a social media post on Tuesday about the drowning incident.

“We immediately contacted the rest of the cardiology team, and within about an hour we had assembled a team capable of meeting this request,” said Paul Maendel, the dive team coordinator.

Operating out of Manitoba, Canada, this was their first rescue in the United States.

“If we drove all night, we could get there at first light,” Paul said.

After coordinating with other crews on scene, they immediately launched a research vessel.

“We were able to use the airboat to get to the point in the last scene. We used sonar and photographed the entire area,” said Manuel Maendel, HEART operations director.

The river bottom was cluttered with rocks, trees and other debris, but they were able to spot something that stood out. Then Paul dove.

“We were able to find Hans and bring him to the surface,” Manuel said.

Even though the rescue was a success, challenges arise after the job is complete. Coping with the loss of a young child is difficult. As a faith-based organization, Team HEART says it finds its strength in God.

“When family meets loved ones and hugs them, that’s when it clicks for me. I’m not afraid to have a good cry afterwards, but it’s healthy to cry through grief,” Paul said.

“It’s emotional for us too, because we also have families. We have children. For me, personally, this interests me even more. Seeing the father approach his child and then kiss him – I could see it with my son, but it motivates me to be even better at this,” Manuel said.

The tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of water safety.

“We’re lucky there was only one death, because there were other boys there who didn’t know how to swim.”

HEART is a completely non-profit organization that charges nothing to families in need of its services. You can help us by donating HERE.