Divers resume search for missing Mount Allison student

RCMP divers and members of the Sackville Fire Department searched a section of the Tantramar River again on Monday for clues in connection with the disappearance ofa Mount Allison University student.

Christopher Metallic, 20, has been missing since early Nov. 25, followinga house party in Sackville.

Although it's unknown whether Metallic may have ended up in the river,police found flip flopshe had been wearing in the area and a person matching his description was also seen in the area the morning he went missing.

A dive team entered the river at about 2 p.m. as Metallic's mother looked on.

"The person is well-known in our community and certainly it's emotional for all my firefighters to be out here and knowing what could potentially be in here, but maybe not as well," said Sackville Fire Chief Craig Bowser.

Volunteer firefightersbraved the rain and mud tobreak through huge chunks of ice.

"It is demanding and physically challenging,"said Bowser.

Crews focused on a one-kilometre stretch of the river, slowing combing through the water. They said they plan to continue their search of the river until they've covered the area.

Metallic's friends, who describe him as a generouspeople-person,remain hopeful he will be found alive.

"It's so out of nature to think that he would do anything that would purposely hurt himself or his family or friends because he just had such a huge heart and he was just so concerned about [the] well-being of others," said Julia Kay, a student at Mount Allison University.

Fellow student Amy MacLean agrees.

"As far as I could tell, Chris loved life, friends and family. He just loved being who he was and that was something I really admired about him," she said.

Police brought in a scuba diving unit to search the frozen river on Sunday, but conditions proved difficult and the search was suspended.

Metallic is described as being aboriginal, six feet tall, 180 pounds, with short dark hair. He was last seen wearing a shiny bright blue sweater, jeans and flip flops.

Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP at 1-888-506-7267 (RCMP).

Metallic's family is offering a $2,000 reward for information that helps locate him, according to a post on a Facebook group called Chris Metallic Please help us bring him home.