Four rescued after boating accident near Tofino

Four rescued after boating accident near Tofino

Vessel crashed between Tofino and Opitsaht Saturday night

Heroic bystanders joined the Tofino Coast Guard to rescue four people onboard a 14′ tin vessel that crashed between Tofino and Opitsaht on Saturday night.

MARPAC communications officer Janice Lee told the Westerly News that all four were rescued quickly after their first distress call went out and were transported to hospital for treatment.

Lee could not speak to the severity of their injuries, but a GoFundMe page titled ‘Emergency Travel from Alberta to Vancouver’ was launched on Sunday in an effort to raise money for the father of one of the rescued to travel to BC Children’s Hospital to be with his son.

“My cousin Rick Tom and his girlfriend Jessica are traveling from Fort McMurray, Alberta to be with his son [who] was in a boating accident last night Nov 2, 2019 on route to Opitsaht from Tofino,” the page reads. “[His son] was transferred to Vancouver Children’s Hospital. Rick left immediately after he heard the news to go be by his son’s side.”

The page had reached $245 of its $1,000 goal at 9 a.m. Monday.

This story will be updated as soon as new information comes in.


andrew.bailey@westerlynews.caLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

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