RCMP have now taken over the search for a person who went into the water with five others after their boat capsized near Bella Bella Friday.
The Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) says the boat started taking on water around 10 a.m., eventually sinking south of Humchitt Island.
The five survivors were wearing lifejackets, a JRCC spokesperson confirmed, and managed to swim to the island’s shore. They were later picked up by an American ferry.
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The missing person was not wearing a lifejacket, the spokesperson added.
Canadian Forces personnel, Coast Guard aircraft and Coast Guard vessels are all involved in the search, which remained ongoing by Friday evening.
On Saturday, the JRCC said the search was suspended overnight, and the case was handed off to Bella Bella RCMP as a missing person case.
RCMP said they are investigating, but added the “extremely unfavourable” weather has made searching the area difficult.
Police also believe the boat’s captain is the person missing.
The BC Coroner has been advised of the incident, but police said it is not yet a coroner’s file.
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The JRCC would not give the ages or genders of the missing person or the survivors.
The cause of the accident is also not yet known.
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