Rescue efforts were a success after a boat sank near Winter Cove off Saturna Island.
According to Maritime Forces Pacific’s senior public affairs officer, lieutenant commander Michael Dery, the vessel had five people on board when it capsized on Monday evening, all of which survived.
“All five were recovered by nearby vessels with no known injuries reported,” Dery says. “The persons involved declined further assistance as they had a second boat nearby, so we were able to transfer to that boat.”
Dery says this incident is the second major search and rescue the area has seen and worries numbers could climb this Canada Day.
“We’ve had a number of incidents,” he says. “With the Canada Day weekend we’re seeing increased volume, luckily these people were able to put on their life jackets and were near other boaters.”
Coast guard and emergency services recommend wearing life jackets when on the water, and Dery says they should be easily accessible to everyone on board.
This is the second incident of a sinking vessel this week after a commercial fishing charter boat sank in the Salish Sea near Richmond.
