Overview
- Powell River RCMP says a personal vessel capsized late Thursday night during a clam-fishing outing and three men were found dead while two survivors were taken to hospital for treatment.
- The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre alerted local authorities when the boat failed to return to Lund Harbour and reported the capsizing about 500 to 1,000 metres off Savary Island.
- Rescue and recovery teams that responded included a Powell River Coast Guard lifeboat, an inshore fast-rescue craft from Cortes Bay, a 442 Squadron Kingfisher aircraft from Comox, local Mounties and Savary Island firefighters.
- All five people on the vessel were members of Tla'amin Nation and the nation has opened its cultural centre to support grieving families while asking for privacy.
- Powell River RCMP is assisting the B.C. Coroners Service in an ongoing investigation into the cause and circumstances of the capsizing, and authorities have not yet released further details on what led to the vessel overturning.