UPDATE: The search continues for the missing boaters. The sunken vessel has been located and RCMP sent out a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) to look for the two missing men but had limited success due to high winds and currents. The ROV was only able to confirm the location of the vessel. Search efforts are continuing today with another ROV and depending on the weather and tides, a dive may be done by the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team.
VANCOUVER — A search by sea, air and land failed to turn up two missing men, after their small vessel, described as a “landing craft” sunk 5 k.m. north of Campbell River, according to authorities. The Campbell River RCMP are calling it as missing persons case.
The vessel was on its way to Campbell River when it started taking on water.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria says they received a call for assistance at 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
An Alaskan ferry that was in the area answered the original mayday call and deployed a zodiac that recovered one man, who had escaped when the landing craft capsized. He was taken to hospital and has been described as a 19-year-old deckhand.
Helicopters and three lifeboats searched for the other two who were on board. They are 29 and 34.
Harold Sewid is a local First Nations’ Chief in the area. He said his nephew is one of the missing men and believes his body is trapped in the boat.
“One of the boys was downstairs and he was on his way up the ladder, when the water pressure knocked him back down. This is one of the reasons we believe his body, or the boys, are still inside the hull of the boat,” Sewid told Global News.
A search with an underwater camera has failed to turn up signs of the men.
Transport Canada has been advised of the incident.
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