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2 people dead, 3 alive after boat sinks off Tofino coast

Click to play video: 'Did weather play a role in Sunday fishing boat accident near Tofino?'
Did weather play a role in Sunday fishing boat accident near Tofino?
WATCH: Two Alberta men are dead and three others are hurt after a fishing charter capsizes off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Jordan Armstrong has the details of what went wrong. – May 1, 2017

The BC Coroners Service is now investigating the deaths of two men who died after a vessel capsized near Tofino on April 30.

The vessel, with five people on board, sank Sunday afternoon.

Five people were pulled from the water, according to the Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC). On Monday, RCMP confirmed a 32 and 42-year-old man, both from Alberta, died.

The other three have now been released from hospital after receiving treatment.

The group was travelling on a 28-foot catamaran fishing boat off the coast of Bartlett Island Sunday afternoon when it began to sink shortly after 1 p.m.

The JRCC said they received a distress call at 1:20 p.m. Shortly after receiving the call, all communications with the group were suddenly lost.

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An aircraft and helicopter were dispatched, along with a Canadian Coast Guard ship, to search for the last known position of the vessel.

The JRCC also sent out a broadcast to any vessels in the area around Bartlett Island to search for the boat.

Melissa Kai with the JRCC said two private aircraft — Tofino Air and Atleo Air — were able to locate the vessel and the five victims.

Tofino Air sent out a lifeboat to the group within four minutes and Atleo Air helped direct rescuers to their position at around 4:50 p.m, she said.

All five victims were lifted from the water by 2:50 p.m.

No one has been identified at this time.

Tofino RCMP will be assisting RCMP West Coast Marine Services and Transportation Safety Board in the investigation and in determining the cause of the incident.

With files from Canadian Press

 

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