UPDATED: A story of a survival and a tragic loss has materialized following the sudden passing of a Sechelt man in a boating accident in the waters off Texada Island last weekend.
Jordan Patrick Beaudoin, aged 38, perished in the accident.
Beaudoin and his partner Shannon McBoyle set out from Halfmoon Bay around noon to spend the day fishing off Texada Island in their 16-foot powerboat Saturday, April 26.
“The couple encountered rough seas and inclement weather and sought protection in a secluded bay,” said Powell River RCMP Const. Tim Kenning. “At approximately 9:30 p.m. that night the couple decided to head for home, but they hit rough seas again, and this time their boat began taking on water. It ultimately capsized, sending both into the water.”
Jordan’s uncle Leonard Beaudoin said his nephew was experienced on the water, and an avid fisherman.
“The family is just devastated,” Leonard said. “No one expects something like this is going to happen.”
He said what the family understands from speaking with McBoyle is there was a bit of a lull in the weather and they tried to make a run for home, but got into trouble again.
“I guess the squalls came in and literally filled the boat half-way with water,” Leonard said.
“They both decided they had to get out of the boat and into the water real fast. I think Jordan was a bit of a hero. He gave Shannon a dry suit and I guess his dry suit had a busted zipper. Maybe that’s why he didn’t make it.”
He said just as they jumped into the water, another wave came crashing over them, flipping and sinking the boat.
“They were both huddled together in the water, and I guess Shannon blacked out for a bit. When she came to, Jordan was gone,” Leonard said. “I suspect it was just pure adrenaline that got her through. The wind and the tide blew her into the beach. She was so exhausted, I guess she fell asleep on the beach.”
When McBoyle woke up, her survival instincts kicked in again as she made her way through thick brush and rocky terrain to try to find help.
Ramona and Toni Kappmeier, who live south of Gillies Bay, said they saw McBoyle soaked and dirty, still wearing her life jacket and without shoes, stumble into their yard when their dog started to bark just after 2 pm Sunday.
Ramona said her husband answered the door and the woman told them she had been in a boating accident and her partner was still there and she needed help.
“She was completely out of control and so tired,” said Ramona. “She didn’t even realize that she wasn’t wearing shoes.”
The couple offered her dry clothes and hot tea, and emergency services arrived.
She said the woman explained that their boat began to sink quickly and the couple decided to swim for the shore.
Ramona believes the woman followed the hydro pole line from the east side of the island until she found a logging road. “It’s quite a steep climb up the mountain,” she said. “There’s no path. It’s all bush.”
A search and rescue operation began once police were alerted, and a significant land, air and water search commenced through the coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Kenning said.
The RCMP provided resources from the Texada Island RCMP detachment, Powell River RCMP detachment and the West Coast Marine Section as part of the search effort, he added.
Beaudoin’s body was found at the waterline on the east side of the island by search crews at around 7 p.m. Sunday night. He was also wearing a life jacket, police said.
Beaudoin worked as a deckhand for Lafarge. Leonard described his nephew as a really great guy, with a big heart.
“He was generous and a good-hearted guy,” Leonard recalled. “The last time I saw him was at my older brother’s funeral. I remember he came up to me and gave me a hug. I can still feel his stubble on my face. I remember holding him and crying with him as we shared that loss. It hurts me to think that was the last time I saw him.”
Leonard said he also met McBoyle at the funeral and thought she was a good person.
“I was working last Saturday night off-loading a barge in Howe Sound. I wasn’t comfortable out there myself, and I’ve been on the water all my life, so I don’t know how Shannon made it. It’s just a miracle,” Leonard said.
“Then for her to find a house on the island — it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. I don’t know what else to say. It’s just a tragedy. A horrible accident.”
McBoyle was treated for hypothermia in hospital in Powell River and was released earlier this week.
Jordan’s mother Alison said that her son “cherished and adored Shannon.” She said an account is being set up at TD Canada Trust for anyone wishing to donate to help Shannon.
The family is holding a Celebration of Life this Saturday, May 3, at 3 p.m. at 4802 Highway 101.
Boating accident claims life
Coroner releases name of deceased
by Chris Bolster | [email protected]
A boating incident in the Strait of Georgia left one man dead and a woman hospitalized with severe hypothermia, Sunday, April 27.
BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of the man as Jordan Patrick Beaudoin, aged 38, from Sechelt. The woman was released from hospital Monday morning, April 28.
The couple departed Halfmoon Bay on the Lower Sunshine Coast around noon to spend the day fishing off Texada Island in their 16-foot powerboat Saturday, April 26.
“The couple encountered rough seas and inclement weather and sought protection in a secluded bay,” said Powell River RCMP Constable Tim Kenning.
At about 9:30 pm the couple decided to head for home, but they hit rough seas again. This time their boat began taking on water, he said. “It ultimately capsized, sending both into the water.”
Authorities believe the woman woke up on the shore roughly 20 kilometres north of the southern tip of the island after having passed out in the water.
Initial reports had the woman swimming for six hours before reaching shore, but police raised doubts as to the length of time she was in the 10-degree-Celsius water and now say that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.
“We’re not able to determine how long she was in the water,” said Kenning.
Ramona and Toni Kappmeier, who live south of Gillies Bay, said they saw the woman soaked and dirty still wearing her lifejacket and without shoes stumble into their yard when their dog started to bark at just after 2 pm Sunday.
Ramona said her husband answered the door and the woman told them she had been in a boating accident. Her husband was still there and she needed help. “She was completely out of control and so tired,” said Ramona. “She didn’t even realize that she wasn’t wearing shoes.” The couple offered her dry clothes and some hot tea and emergency services arrived.
She said the woman explained that their boat began to sink quickly and the couple decided to swim for the shore.
Ramona believes the woman followed the hydro pole line from the east side of the island until she found a logging road. “It’s quite a steep climb up the mountain,” she added. “There’s no path. It’s all bush.”
Beaudoin was found deceased at the waterline on the east side of the island by search crews at around 7 pm Sunday, April 27. He was also wearing a life jacket, said police.
BC Coroners Service and the RCMP continue to investigate the incident.
The identity of the survivor will not be released.
More information is coming to light about a boating incident in the Strait of Georgia, which left one man is dead and a woman in hospital recovering from severe hypothermia Sunday, April 27.
BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of the man as Jordan Patrick Beaudoin, aged 38, from Sechelt. The woman was released from hospital Monday morning, April 28.
The couple departed Halfmoon Bay on the Lower Sunshine Coast around noon to spend the day fishing off Texada Island in their 16-foot powerboat Saturday, April 26.
“The couple encountered rough seas and inclement weather and sought protection in a secluded bay,” said Powell River RCMP Constable Tim Kenning. At approximately 9:30 pm that night the couple decided to head for home, but they hit rough seas again, but this time their boat began taking on water, he said. “It ultimately capsized, sending both into the water.”
Initial reports had the woman swimming for six hours before reaching shore, but police have raised doubts as to the length of time she was in the 10-degree-Celsius water and now say that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.
“We’re not able to determine how long she was in the water,” said Kenning. “It’s been our standpoint from the beginning.”
Kenning said he thought that number came from when the hypothermic disoriented woman was first asked by search and rescue about what had happened.
“Those times were well before a reasonable timeline was put into place,” he added.
The woman, who was not wearing a survival suit, was wearing a life jacket as she swam to the shore of a sparsely-populated area of Texada Island.
A search and rescue began about noon Sunday after the woman had to hike close to 12 hours before she found a residence near Van Anda. Police were alerted, and a significant land, air and water search commenced through the coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, said Kenning.
The RCMP provided resources from Texada Island RCMP Detachment, Powell River RCMP Detachment and the West Coast Marine Section as part of the search effort, he added.
Beaudoin was found deceased at the waterline on the east side of the island by search crews at around 7 pm Sunday, April 27. He was also wearing a life jacket, said police.
BC Coroners Service and the RCMP continue to investigate the incident.
The identity of the survivor will not be released.
Body of missing boater found off Texada Island
By Christine Tam and Amy Judd | Global News
A search has ended and RCMP have taken over the investigation of a fatal boating accident in the northern section of B.C.’s Georgia Strait.
Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Paul Tasker confirms a body found Sunday evening off the shores of Texada Island is that of a missing Metro Vancouver man.
Cst Tim Kenning from the Powell River RCMP says man and woman is from Sechelt and they left Half Moon Bay on Saturday for a day of fishing. Both were dressed for the weather.
Previous story:
A woman remains in hospital in Powell River recovering from a terrifying weekend ordeal.
Coast guard crews have now spotted what they believe is a body after a boat carrying the woman and a man capsized in the Strait of Georgia Saturday night, according to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
The 16-foot power vessel ran into trouble at around 9:30 p.m. while travelling to the mainland in bad weather.
The woman managed to escape the sinking vessel and spent six hours swimming to the shore of Texada Island.
Once on land, the severely hypothermic woman spent hours looking for help. She finally found a home and knocked on the door for help at around 2:20 p.m. Sunday, according to rescue crews.
“It was reported that the vessel overturned at 9:30 p.m. Saturday night,” said Lt. Paul Pendergrast from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. “And the adult female was in the water for several hours and made it to shore and the report came in at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.”
“It took some time to make it to a telephone and call in a report.”
The Coast guard hovercraft and air search crews canvassed the area looking for any sign of the boat and the man.
They spotted what is believed to be a body at around 7 p.m. and suspended the search.
The woman’s condition is currently unknown.
~ Courtesy of Global News, with files from CP
