Distress Call Sets CCGA 12 in Motion

A sinking boat is a worrisome thing...

June 24, 2008. At 1207 PM today, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary-Pacific, Unit 12 (CCGA 12) received a Code 3, meaning that someone was either in the water or close to it. Unit 12 was tasked to go to the assistance of a vessel with one person on board, which was taking on water approximately one and a half nautical miles south of Anderson Bay on Texada Island. By the time the first vessel arrived the boat was already mostly submerged and the lone occupant had abandoned ship. He was pulled out of the water after about two to three minutes by a vessel of opportunity which luckily, was close at hand. CCGA 12 was the first rescue vessel on scene followed by two Coast Guard vessels from French Creek. As CCGA12 arrived, most of the foundering vessel was below the surface.

Our Duty Cox'n, a first aid specialist, transferred to the vessel which had picked up the survivor in order to assist in treating him for hypothermia. It was then decided to take the person to French Creek for follow-up treatment and he was transferred to the 'on scene command' Coast Guard Vessel.

CCGA 12 was involved in this incident for approximately three and a half hours, during which time the crew recovered as much as they could of the person's possessions that had floated to the surface. Once again, volunteer Search and Rescue made a difference.

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