Ferry passengers experiencing a 20-minute delay on a Vancouver – Victoria trip is usually nothing new. However, on a recent Sunday morning, the extra time came due to a surprisingly noble cause.
On August 27, BC Ferries crew members rescued six people from sinking boats.
Four Boaters, Two Kayakers
According to BC Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall, the Coast Guard called BC Ferries on Sunday morning, asking for help rescuing some boaters near Mayne Island.
Four of the people rescued had been in a sinking runabout boat, while the other two were kayakers who tried to help but capsized their own boats in the process.
Luckily, the Spirit of Vancouver Island was travelling nearby, just outside of Active Pass. The vessel launched a rescue boat.
Boaters Transferred to Coast Guard
The two crew members inside removed all six people out of the water. The Coast Guard then came and picked up the four people from the small boat, while the kayakers were taken to shore.
Apart from mild hypothermia, the six people rescued were fine. In total, the delay only lasted about 20-25 minutes.
