Two deckhands rescued after going overboard from ferry at Swartz Bay

Two deckhands rescued after going overboard from ferry at Swartz Bay
CHEK

Two BC Ferries workers were rescued after accidentally falling into the water at Swartz Bay on April 18, 2018. File photo.

Two BC Ferries workers have been rescued after they fell overboard while training on a ferry at Swartz Bay on Wednesday afternoon.

According to Deborah Marshall, executive director of public affairs for BC Ferries, the two deckhands were taking part in a training exercise at around 12:50 p.m. on the Queen of Cumberland and were using a rescue boat that was being lowered into the water.

Marshall said the davit, which is a mechanism that drops the boat into the water, failed and the two fell into the bay. She added that reports that the crew members were trapped were not accurate.

“Both were wearing survival suits and had personal protective equipment on,” Marshall said.

The two individuals were quickly taken out of the water by BC Ferries personnel in two boats. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre’s hovercraft was deployed but was quickly called off once the two workers were rescued.

There were no reports of major injuries, but the two workers have been taken to hospital via ambulance.

All Queen of Cumberland sailings along the Victoria to Southern Gulf Islands route have been cancelled until further notice. Vessel arrangements are being made to move traffic.

Marshall said the rescue boat on the Queen of Cumberland will be replaced and there will be an investigation into why the davit failed.

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