This is the organization that saves lives throughout the waters we boat in. I am a member but I don't get to go on the rescue boats, I only do Courtesy Inspections (CE). The Skookumchuk rapids are the wildest, craziest waters this SAR team has in their area.
2 Sunshine Coast RCM-SAR Volunteers Killed in Accident
UPDATED JUN 4/12 12:30pm with name of second victim
The Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation after two volunteers from the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue's Halfmoon Bay Unit died when their boat capsized in the Skookumchuck Narrows yesterday...
The rigid hull inflatable was being used for training when it ran into trouble around 11:30 in the morning. Sergeant Dan Bodden is with the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre. One of the first boats to respond was the Halfmoon Bay unit's second boat, which was also in the area as part of the training.
Sgt Bodden says two men on board were plucked quickly from the water, but two female crew members couldn't be located, "When search and rescue technician from the Coromorant helicopter arrived they were lowered down and had a look inside and then the two deceased females were located."
Randy Strandt is the president of RCM-SAR, formerly known as the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
He says these are the first fatalities in the organization's history... and it's left their tight knit group in shock, "I can't state enough the service they've given and, obviously they knew there were risks, but never would anyone imagine this type of thing could happen."
That sense of shock extends to us here at 91.7 The Coast. One of the victims, Angie Nemeth (43), was our office and traffic manager...
Bob Morris is the president of Westwave Broadcasting. Click "Listen" to hear his statement on behalf of all of us here at CKAY.
The other victim was 51 year old Beatrice Sorensen who worked for the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society.
The TSB's Chris Krepski says a team from the Vancouver field office arrived on the Sunshine Coast late Sunday, and has now taken possession of the RCM-SAR boat and is busy interviewing surviving crew members and other witnesses. He says the preliminary inspection of the boat and the information from the interviews will determine if the TSB launches a full scale investigation.
2 Sunshine Coast RCM-SAR Volunteers Killed in Accident
UPDATED JUN 4/12 12:30pm with name of second victim The Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation after two volunteers from the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue's Halfmoon Bay Unit died when their boat capsized in the Skookumchuck Narrows yesterday...
The rigid hull inflatable was being used for training when it ran into trouble around 11:30 in the morning. Sergeant Dan Bodden is with the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre. One of the first boats to respond was the Halfmoon Bay unit's second boat, which was also in the area as part of the training.
Sgt Bodden says two men on board were plucked quickly from the water, but two female crew members couldn't be located, "When search and rescue technician from the Coromorant helicopter arrived they were lowered down and had a look inside and then the two deceased females were located."
Randy Strandt is the president of RCM-SAR, formerly known as the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
He says these are the first fatalities in the organization's history... and it's left their tight knit group in shock, "I can't state enough the service they've given and, obviously they knew there were risks, but never would anyone imagine this type of thing could happen."
That sense of shock extends to us here at 91.7 The Coast. One of the victims, Angie Nemeth (43), was our office and traffic manager...
Bob Morris is the president of Westwave Broadcasting. Click "Listen" to hear his statement on behalf of all of us here at CKAY.
The other victim was 51 year old Beatrice Sorensen who worked for the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society.
The TSB's Chris Krepski says a team from the Vancouver field office arrived on the Sunshine Coast late Sunday, and has now taken possession of the RCM-SAR boat and is busy interviewing surviving crew members and other witnesses. He says the preliminary inspection of the boat and the information from the interviews will determine if the TSB launches a full scale investigation.
