Seven people, including five young children, were rescued after their fishing boat capsized about 3 kilometers off the northern tip of Galiano Island.
Acting Sub-lieutenant Ron MacDougall with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria says the call came in around 8:00pm on Monday.
A Coast Guard hovercraft raced to the scene and two BC Ferries, including the Spirit of Vancouver Island and the Queen of Cowichan, diverted their course after hearing the mayday call. Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue vessels, the Coast Guard lifeboat from Ganges Island and a US Coast Guard helicopter also responded.
MacDougall says they were treated for mild to moderate hypothermia, after spending about 25 minutes in the water.
He says the fact that they had a handheld radio and were able to maintain contact the whole time played a major role in the successful rescue.
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