One of the most dangerous areas of the B.C. coast has caused another boating incident that sees one man clinging to life in a Victoria hospital.
Sgt. Troy Beauregard of the Campbell River RCMP says just after 6 p.m. last night, the RCMP West Coast Marine Section Patrol Vessel Lindsay and its four-man crew were returning to Campbell River for the evening, when they spotted a capsized vessel near the west side of Seymour Narrows and four people in the water.
They alerted Coast Guard and began rescue operations that would see them recover two of the men by jet boat launched from the RCMP vessel, one of whom was, “unconscious and unresponsive” when pulled from the water.
“Emergency first aid attempts was commenced by the RCMP member as the jet boat made its way to Brown’s Bay Marina to meet BC Ambulance,” Beauregard says, at which point a second private vessel arrived on scene and aided in the recovery of the other two boaters.
“The unconscious male has since been transferred to hospital in Victoria where he is in serious/critical condition,” Beauregard says, and the other three men have been treated in hospital and since released.
“it was very fortunate that the vessel was spotted by the RCMP Crew,” Beauregard says, as none of the men were wearing flotation devices. “It is believed that they were likely in the water for less than 10 minutes.”
The conditions at the time were poor with a full ebb tide running at 11 to 12 knots creating massive whirlpools and upwellings, Beauregard says.
The investigation into the causes for the incident is ongoing and is being completed by the Campbell River RCMP with assistance from the RCMP West Coast Marine Section.
Police have said none of the men were from the area, but names of those involved are not being released at this time.
