Details released about exhaustive search for man overboard victim

Last weekends tragic man overboard incident in the Chrismore Pass area, has spawned a debate over the state of rescue capabilities on the North coast. But as more details become public about the incident, it appears in this instance as fast a response as possible was provided by local officials.

The Wednesday Daily News provided a look at the events on the crab vessel Reid Pass on Friday night and how a large flotilla of boats and one aircraft responded to the call to search for the missing deckhand.

The case has since been turned over to the Prince Rupert RCMP as a missing persons file and no name has been released as next of kin has yet to be located and informed.

Search for lost crab fisherman was joined by many
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, September 12, 2007

It was a sad day Saturday when the search and rescue mission for an Area B crab vessel crew member was called off.

Marine search and rescue resources were called out Friday evening around 8:30 p.m. after a mayday call was received from Area B crab vessel Reid Pass, informing authorities that a crew man had gone overboard in the area of Chrismore Pass, located near Porcher Island.

The weather was calm with light winds when the deckhand fell into the water. He was followed closely by the vessel's captain who jumped in after him in an attempt to assist him.

Unfortunately, the skipper of the 32-foot aluminum boat was unable to reach the man, and it was the last time the deckhand was seen.

A large team of boats and one aircraft headed out to search the area upon receiving the emergency call.

Rescue resources employed that night included the Coast Guard cutter Point Henry, Point Henry II, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel Rainbow Responder, Port Simpson Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit 65, the Coast Guard vessel Tanu and her workboat.

"It was a pretty extensive search that went out for him," said Geoff Gould, "and it was pretty good search conditions in a fairly defined area with calm waters and clear skies. But if the object you're looking for isn't floating, you're not going to find it."

A Buffalo aircraft from Comox dropped flares over the scene for more than two hours to assist the search teams, but after no success, the coast guard search was called off after daybreak on Saturday.

The RCMP has taken over the responsibility for the search, and the identity of the fisherman is still being withheld pending the notification of kin.

The Reid Pass deckhand was not believed to have been wearing a life jacket at the time he went overboard. Nearly 80 per cent of all drowning incidents in Canada occur within a half mile of shore, and involve the victim not wearing a personal flotation device.

"It's just so easy to fall off a boat, just one minute of inadvertence and you're in the water," said Gould. "That's why you've got to wear that PFD all the time."

Tragedy off the coast

A search in the waters off of Prince Rupert, which included the Canadian and US Coast Guards was handed over to the RCMP earlier Saturday, now listed as a missing persons case.

A fisherman working on a crab boat on Friday evening, fell overboard while working the traps, he was not wearing a life jacket and his fellow crew members saw him go underwater.

The Coast guard received the call Friday night at around 8:14 and began the search with a helicopter and boats. The U S coast guard was called in to assist with the search, which continued through the night and into Saturday, seemingly now having ended in tragedy.

No names or vessel identification will be released until the next of kin have been contacted.

This tragedy brings home the story of August 31 in the Daily News about changing the role of the Sikorsky based in Prince Rupert and taking away it's ability to provide hoisting capabilities in times of an emergency.

Perhaps this apparent tragedy will give someone in Ottawa or wherever these decisions are made a cause to rethink things.

Fisherman still missing after falling overboard
Glenda Luymes
The Province
Sunday, September 09, 2007

The search for a fisherman who fell overboard while working in the waters off Prince Rupert Friday night has been turned over the RCMP.

The man, who was not wearing a life jacket, was aboard a 35-foot fishing boat working traps when he fell.

His fellow fishermen saw him go underwater.

The coast guard received a call at 8:14 p.m. Friday and immediately sent a helicopter and a number or boats, but were unable to locate the man.

The U.S. Coast Guard assisted with the search, while a Buffalo fixed-wing aircraft dropped illumination flares.

The search was turned over the RCMP as a missing persons case Saturday afternoon. Officers were attempting to locate the man's next-of-kin.