The holiday ended abruptly for a couple from Cumberland whose truck and boat trailer sank in the ocean Aug. 11. The couple was launching their boat at Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Hardy when the incident occurred.
According to Harbour Manager Leah Robinson there are conflicting reports about what exactly happened, however, the truck and trailer ended up being completely submerged at the boat launch.
Two tow trucks responded along with Camcor Diving Services who are in town installing nets for Marine Harvest. “They keep their boats over at the Quarterdeck and they were there quite quickly.”
Robinson said the man escaped through an open window, while his wife and dog watched from the dock.
According to two brothers from Vancouver who watched the events unfold, the incident “was so fast it was insane.”
After getting out of the window, the man hopped into the box of his truck, then climbed onto the roof of the cab and stood there like a captain going down with his ship - “like sinking with the Titanic,” they said. “It was so sad.”
As the truck dropped further under the water, the man swam to shore, the bystanders said. The truck, with trailer still attached, were eventually winched out of the water.