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Search for mariners who capsized near Tofino now missing persons case

sa国际传媒淥ur thoughts are with the loved ones of the missing.sa国际传媒
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Local boaters joined a search effort Friday for three missing mariners whose vessel capsized near Tofino around 3 a.m. (Photo - Andrew Bailey)

The search for three missing mariners whose has been reduced and the file has been handed over to local RCMP as a missing personsa国际传媒檚 case, according to Victoriasa国际传媒檚 Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

sa国际传媒淎fter over 18 hours of extensive air, land and waterborne searching for three individuals reported missing after their vessel sank in the early morning off Duffin Cove in Tofino, on June 15th, JRCC Victoria has called a Search Reduction,sa国际传媒 read a statement from the JRCC around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

sa国际传媒淛RCC thanks the countless volunteers in kayaks and other small private vessels, and on the ground from the communities surrounding the search area, as well all our partner organizations, the CCG, RCM-SAR, Parks Canada, G-SAR, Emergency Management B.C., RCMP, Emergency Health Services, who assisted in the search. The case has been handed over to the RCMP as a missing personsa国际传媒檚 case. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the missing.sa国际传媒

Tofino RCMP, Search and Rescue crews, 19 Wing Comox, the RCMPsa国际传媒檚 West Coast Marine Section and Underwater Recovery Team have been searching a roughly 41-square kilometre radius around Tofino after multiple 911 calls came in from West Coast residents who had heard calls for help.

Two people were located, one in the water and one who had swam ashore. Both stated three other people had been in the boat with them.

Westcoast Inland Search and Rescue Manager Garth Cameron said his team was called to the search around 3:30 a.m.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a hasty search where you get boats on the water instantly. Sooner the better. Put boots on the ground, sooner the better,sa国际传媒 Cameron told the Westerly News. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a shore search, itsa国际传媒檚 a ground search, itsa国际传媒檚 a bush search and itsa国际传媒檚 a hasty search.sa国际传媒

Cameron held an impromptu press conference with reporters at Tofinosa国际传媒檚 First Street Dock around 1 p.m. and said the search had been extensive.

sa国际传媒淭he surrounding islands have been searched, on the shore, in the sands, on the rocks, the crevices. Itsa国际传媒檚 been a very busy morning,sa国际传媒 he said. sa国际传媒淵ou never lose hope. You never give up and you give 110 per cent of your effort all the time.sa国际传媒

He said the West Coast came together quickly with commercial operators joining search and rescue crews on the ocean.

sa国际传媒淲hen tragedy does happen in this community, it has always come together,sa国际传媒 he said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a huge snowball effect and the town always supports each other.sa国际传媒

He added the Tla-o-qui-aht and Ahousaht First Nations responded immediately.

sa国际传媒淲hen a call for help comes, regardless of the time, their response time is minutes. Itsa国际传媒檚 a very close knit community here on the Coast,sa国际传媒 he said. sa国际传媒淚 know, without a doubt and in my heart of hearts, that they responded within minutes and they had people on the water.sa国际传媒

Cameron, who has lived in Tofino for 36 years, said it is not uncommon for a vessel to be out at night and added that he knows the missing men.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a difficult day. But, Isa国际传媒檓 not the only one that has personal connections with the members that are missing,sa国际传媒 he said.

Tofino mayor Josie Osborne remained hopeful when she spoke to the Westerly around noon Friday.

sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 nothing thatsa国际传媒檚 ever easy about this. The connection that we have as a coastal community to the ocean is one that is deep and, when things like this happen, sometimes they have very, very, tragic outcomes. Wesa国际传媒檙e really hoping for the best and wesa国际传媒檒l see what the day brings,sa国际传媒 she said.



Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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