Four rescued after boat capsizes east of Vancouver Island
Four people were rescued near Savary Island off the east coast of Vancouver Island on Thursday evening after the vessel they were travelling in capsized.
According to Second Lieutenant Vatsal Shah of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, the incident took place around 9 p.m. about 800 meters off of a beach on Savary.
The group was travelling on a 3.6-metre pleasure craft when it capsized.
"There were four people in the water and one of the persons from the boat using their cell phone made the call," said Shah.
The JRCC spokesperson initially said one of the overboard passengers attempted to swim to shore and was picked up by a boat in the area, while the other three were pulled from the water by the coast guard vessel Cape Caution.
CTV News Vancouver Island has since been contacted by the operator of the civilian boat, who says he was the first to pick up all four passengers, and later transferred them to the coast guard.
In a phone interview with CTV News on Saturday, the boater - who didn't want to be identified by name - said he was returning to Savary Island from fishing when he heard someone screaming for help.
It was the man who had attempted to swim to shore. When the civilian boater picked him up, he said there were three other people in the water.
So, the pair set out to find them, but the task proved difficult in the setting sun and rough seas. They called 911, then saw a light on the water. It was coming from the cellphone of one of the distressed boaters.
They were able to follow the light to the distressed boaters and pull them aboard. Coast guard crews arrived soon after.
Vessel tracking at the time of the incident shows that a BC Ferries vessel travelling between Powell River and Comox, as well one from Powell River to Texada Island, began making their way to the incident before they returned to their regular routes.
A Cormorant helicopter from 19 Wing Comox was also dispatched to the scene.
Shah says the four were taken to Powell River and then transferred to hospital by ambulance. All four are in good condition.
What caused the vessel to capsize is still unclear.
"We’re not sure. It’s most likely that it was overloaded, because there were four people on there, and it was just a 12-foot-pleasure craft," Shah said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.