Five dead as whale watching boat capsizes and sinks

A tourist trip ended in tragedy this weekend after a whale watching boat capsized and sank off the coast of Canada.

sinkingboat

by Ellie Hooper |
Published on

Five people have died and one is still missing after the 20 metre boat capsized just off Vancouver Island on the west coast of the country.

In total, the tourist vessel was carrying 27 individuals who hoped to catch a glimpse of the orcas that swim the coastline, but their trip sadly ended in disaster.

Survivors were rescued from the water, seven miles off shore, before the search for the final remaining passenger had to be called off due to nightfall.

The weather had been clear and fine on the day of the incident, and it is not yet clear what caused the small whale watching boat to sink.

Local fishing guide Lance Desilets said that it was a ‘sad day for our community’ and that everyone involved in the rescue were doing their utmost to help.

Meanwhile 18 survivors were taken to hospital in Tofino, near Vancouver, where all were said to be in a stable condition.

The Jamie’s Whaling Station boat sent out a mayday signal at around 5PM local time on Sunday, with at least 12 boats responding to try and rescue those involved.

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