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
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.