Man and dog rescued after fishing boat sinks near Vancouver Island
CTV
A marine salvage operation is underway in U.S. waters off Vancouver Island after a man and his dog were forced to abandon their sinking fishing boat Friday.
A marine salvage operation is underway in U.S. waters off Vancouver Island after a man and his dog were forced to abandon their sinking fishing boat Friday.
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the castaways after their life raft washed ashore on Henry Island, Wash., east of Vancouver Island.
The agency says it responded around 6 a.m. Friday to a report that the 14.5-metre (48 foot) commercial fishing boat Chief Joseph was taking on water.
A coast guard helicopter and two rescue boats were dispatched and transported the man and his dog to Port Angeles, Wash., in stable condition, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.
The helicopter crew identified a 90-metre oil sheen and a debris field from the sunken vessel.
Authorities say the fishing boat was reportedly carrying between 1,500 and 1,900 litres of fuel when it went down.
While the cause of the sinking is still under investigation, spill-response company Global Dive and Salvage was tasked with the recovery and remediation of the scene over the weekend.
