Lost fisherman found alive, another still missing after life raft discovered off Vancouver Island
One of two American fishermen who had been lost at sea for nearly two weeks was found alive Thursday, floating in an emergency life raft approximately 75 kilometres off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
The other man who was aboard their 13-metre vessel when it left Grays Harbor in Washington state on Oct. 12, has not been found.
The lone survivor was located by the crew of the Canadian fishing boat "Ocean Sunset" approximately 40 nautical miles off Ucluelet, B.C., around 8 a.m.
"It's a one-in-a-million chance to find a life raft out there in that huge open ocean," U.S. Coast Guard public affairs officer Steve Strohmaier said of the discovery.
"We're really, really grateful for those Good Samaritans who took him aboard," Strohmaier said, commending the crew of the Canadian boat for feeding the castaway and giving him water while waiting for authorities to arrive.
Canadian Coast Guard vessel Cape Ann was dispatched to the scene to bring the stranded man ashore.
B.C. Emergency Health Services says it was contacted by the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria at 8:42 a.m. about "a marine incident." An ambulance was sent to the government dock in Tofino to await the man's arrival.
Paramedics treated the mariner, who was found to be in stable condition, and transported him to Tofino General Hospital.
The U.S. Coast Guard had been searching for the missing mariners after their vessel, named "Evening," failed to return to Westport, Wash., on Oct. 15.
The search was called off Wednesday after authorities scoured more than 36,000 square kilometres of ocean.
"Literally about 12 hours after we suspended (our search), a Good Samaritan vessel was able to come upon this life raft pretty much out in the middle of nowhere," Strohmaier said. "And miraculously, there was one person inside that was alive."
The U.S. Coast Guard says it will work with the rescued man to determine what happened to his fishing partner and their boat before determining whether or not to renew the search.
"At this time, the search for the other individual is still suspended pending any new information," United States Coast Guard public affairs officer Travis Magee said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Usyk beats Fury by split decision, becomes undisputed heavyweight champion
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by split decision to become the first undisputed heavyweight boxing champion in 24 years.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
VIA Rail service delayed for hours due to suspicious package investigation in Kingston, Ont.
VIA Rail service resumed in the Kingston, Ont. area late Saturday afternoon, after a suspicious package investigation halted train service for more than four hours over the Victoria Day long weekend.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
B.C. pipeline company argues its 'haulers' are not trucks, for tax purposes
A contractor working on the Coastal GasLink pipeline has been denied more than $333,000 worth of tax rebates because pieces of machinery it purchased – and claimed were not trucks – were deemed sufficiently truck-like in B.C. Supreme Court.