PORT ALICE—A boater who went overboard near Port Alice was rescued from the chilly waters of Neurotsis Inlet by an alert bystander with the help of a local RCMP constable Saturday afternoon.
Cst. Darren Regush received a call at 3:45 p.m. Oct. 5 saying a 16-foot, open-bow boat had run aground near the Port Alice Marina. A lone man had fallen from the boat and could be seen in the water, nearly 300 metres from shore beyond the marina's breakwater.
After making a radio call for assistance from B.C. Ambulance and the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue unit, Regush was joined by the man who originally called in the emergency. The two located the grounded boat, badly damaged from a high-speed impact with the shoreline, and muscled it into the water before managing to start the engine.
The two motored out to the struggling victim in his own boat and were joined by a second boat, piloted by the son of the 9-1-1 caller. The three men worked together to hoist the victim, described as "very cold and tired," from the water.
The victim was transported to shore, where his care was taken over by B.C. Ambulance personnel.
RCMP expressed its thanks to everyone who assisted in the rescue.
"Without the quick action of those involved, this matter might have turned out far differently," it said in a written release.
RCMP also issued a reminder of the importance of proper boating safety, including always wearing a certified personal floatation device when on the water.