In the spring of 1983, a young man named Samuel Amos Quatell, aged 19, vanished without a trace from the waters of British Columbia. On March 12, 1983, Samuel was working aboard the fishing vessel “ISE II” near Steep Island, which is situated in the challenging currents of Seymour Narrows between Quadra Island and Campbell River. He was last observed by fellow crew members near the stern of the boat.
What began as an ordinary day at sea soon turned into a perplexing mystery when it was discovered that Samuel was no longer on the vessel.
The alarm was raised, and an extensive and thorough search was promptly launched in the turbulent waters where he was last seen. The area is known for its formidable tidal currents, a fact that added a significant layer of difficulty to the search efforts. It was understood that if he had gone into the water, the powerful currents could have carried him a great distance in a very short amount of time, expanding the search area exponentially. Despite the determined efforts of search and rescue teams, no sign of Samuel was ever found.
Samuel Amos Quatell is described as an Indigenous male with a heavy build, a dark complexion, and short black hair. At the time of his disappearance, he stood 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed approximately 161 pounds. He had brown eyes. Distinctive physical characteristics included a scar on his right thumb and the missing tip of his left ring finger. When he was last seen, he was wearing a black leather jacket, blue denim pants, and black cowboy boots. The disappearance of Samuel Amos Quatell remains an unresolved case, a poignant story of loss at sea that has left his loved ones without answers for decades. The official investigation, handled by the Quadra Island RCMP, has been unable to provide any definitive explanation as to what happened to the young fisherman on that fateful day.Last Seen: Mar 12, 1983
