KEENE —
Family members of Robert E. Hamer III are hoping someone can help recover the JVC video camera lost last Thursday when the Florida boy drowned.
"The last days of my nephew's life are on that camera," said Donna Abair of Port Kent, the boy's aunt.
The 12-year-old, who lived in North Miami, was visiting relatives in the North Country last week with his father, Robert E. Hamer II, an annual vacation that they always documented with a video camera, capturing the sites seen and moments shared together as father and son.
REUNION PLANNED
"My brother and his son were filming their entire trip, which they make every year, from start to finish," Abair said.
This year, the trip was to culminate last Saturday with a family reunion in North Hero, Vt., where about 25 family members planned to celebrate the 80th birthday of Robert Hamer III's grandfather, Robert E. Hamer.
"They were going to show the video of their trip at the reunion," Abair said.
TRIED TO SAVE HIM
A spot the Hamers visited each year was Champagne Falls, a swimming hole on the east branch of the Ausable River in Keene just off Hulls Falls Road.
They stopped there last Thursday.
"Every year that my brother comes to visit, he and his son go there, and they swim and enjoy themselves," Abair said. "My brother calls it The Gulch."
At about 3 p.m., the Zip-lock bag containing the digital video camera fell into the water, and the 12-year-old swam into what State Police referred to as a "bottleneck" rock formation while trying to grab it.
Trapped at the waist in the rocks, his entire body was pushed under by the force of the falls, emergency service officials said.
The boy's father and four other swimmers tried to dislodge his body and keep his head above water, but they were unsuccessful.
Members of the Keene Volunteer Rescue Squad were able to pull the boy from the water, and emergency personnel performed life-support measures, resuscitating him and bringing his pulse back, State Police said.
He was flown to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, but he died there after being taken off life support over the weekend.
His organs were donated, which will benefit seven other people, Abair said.
REWARD OFFERED
In the wake of the tragedy, the family is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the recovery of the hand-held digital video camera or the SD memory card contained in it.
"(The camera) floated away from my nephew as he was chasing it, and the bag was bobbing on top of the water," Abair said.
"Maybe a fisherman saw it, or maybe it washed up on shore — anything could have happened. It could be in Lake Champlain for all I know. But it's so important to this family."
Abair said the camera is silver in color. To protect the camera from water, the Hamers had placed the camera inside two other plastic bags before sealing it inside the Zip-lock bag.
Abair hopes the reward will prompt someone to come forward, even if returning only the digital memory card contained in the camera.
"They can have the camera; we just want the memories on that SD card," she said.
"This is just a heartbreaking situation. It's a 12-year-old boy's last days with his father."
'WONDERFUL BOY'
Abair said her nephew was referred to by family members as "Bobby 3," and he took great pride in being so close to his father and grandfather.
"He was a wonderful boy. His father let him experience life in every way possible. He was my brother's son, his only son, and they were like two peas in a pod.
"With the heartache and the loss this family feels, finding this camera would be a small, bittersweet thing I could give my brother."
Anyone with any information about the camera is asked to call Donna Abair at 578-0342.
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