A member of the Royal Canadian Navy spent more than two hours in the waters off Vancouver Island after falling overboard on Monday.
Maritime Forces Pacific says the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria was alerted to the person falling overboard from a rigid-hull inflatable boat at about 2:45 p.m. PT.
The incident happened about a kilometre east of Bentinck Island, near the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and about 40 kilometres southwest of Victoria.
Search and rescue crews used a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, a Cormorant helicopter, and several vessels from both Canada and the United States in the rescue.
Maritime Forces Pacific Commander Rear-Admiral David Patchell said in a statement that rescuers encountered difficult conditions, including high winds, large swells and a lack of lighting.
“It’s important to note our American allies were here and a civilian, the … vessel Pacific Guardian. We were able to rescue a sailor. It is an emotional event,” Patchell told reporters.
The rear-admiral said that the rescue was a reminder of the need of continued investment in training, equipment and recruiting in the Canadian Coast Guard and the Navy.
“It was windy, it was choppy, and it’s a reminder that life at sea is dangerous,” he said. “What we do is dangerous.”
Major Gregory Clarke from the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre told local television news program CHEK News that the crew on the helicopter eventually spotted the man who went overboard, despite darkness and large swells that made it difficult to spot a lone person bobbing in the water.
“It definitely made for some very challenging searches. So we’re very grateful that the Cyclone [crew] was able to spot the member in the water before full darkness,” he said.
The member was rescued at around 5 p.m. PT.
Dramatic rescue footage shows helicopters responding after Navy member falls overboard
The navy says the member was conducting sentry duties off the Bentinck Island range when he fell overboard, although no cause of the incident has been released.
Video of the rescue, taken from a plane, shows a number of vessels circling and assisting with the rescue.
“He just waved his hand up, he’s alive,” says a member of the rescue team in a video shared with CBC News.
The rescued member was transferred to local emergency health services shortly after he was located.
