>WATCH: A ferry passenger tossed a life ring into the ocean after a woman jumped from BC Ferries vessel and ends up saving her life. April Lawrence reports.
Update: After five hours, the search ended successfully when the 41-year-old woman was found clinging to a life ring.
Captain Stu Irvine of the Joint Rescue Centre tells CHEK News, the length of time the woman was in the water was near the maximum in which a person could survive in the frigid waters.
Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Crews found the woman about 10:45 p.m. Monday.
The woman was reported to have gone overboard at 5:45 from the Queen of Oak Bay, which was near the middle of Georgia Strait on route to Nanaimo.
Two BC Ferries, the Coast Guard Hovercraft, a helicopter from CFB Comox and vessels from Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue boats were involved in the extensive search.
The woman was transported by ambulance after being taken aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft to its Sea Island base in Richmond.
Her condition is unknown.
Photo by Darren Malcolm taken from Queen of Cowichan. Queen of Oak Bay seen left of screen.
Ben O'Hara
