Two men were rescued from Malaspina Strait east of Texada Island on Saturday, July 21 after a large wave capsized their 15-foot boat, throwing them both into the water.
Both were able to cling to an ice cooler and remained in the water for over an hour until a passing civilian sailboat spotted them and brought them on board. The crew of the sailboat then called Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria to report the incident. A Cormorant helicopter carrying Search and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech) first responders was sent to rendezvous with the sailboat in case the men required medical care. It arrived over the sailboat at approximately 2:40 pm.
“The rigging and sails on the boat posed some challenges to hoist on board, so we jumped into the water and swam 100 metres to the boat,” said Master Corporal Sean Daniell, SAR Tech from 442 Squadron, 19 Wing Comox. “Once we got on board, we gave both men a checkup; they were both cold and exhausted from treading water for so long.”
Once the SAR Techs had confirmed the men were in stable condition, they were transferred into the care of a Coast Guard Fast Response craft crew from Powell River and evacuated. The men’s overturned boat was later secured by a crew from Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Unit 61.
The names and origins of the two men are currently unknown.
