VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canadian authorities say at least three people died after a whale watching boat with 27 people on board sank off Vancouver Island.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre confirmed that the vessel made a mayday call shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday near Tofino, British Columbia.
Jenn Hamilton, a spokeswoman for British Columbia Emergency Health Services, said at least three were dead.
Hamilton said she did not have further details including nationalities of the deceased.
She didn't know how far off the coast of British Columbia the boat sank. Five ambulances were dispatched and many off duty paramedics went to the dock to help, she said.
There will be humour in this at the inquest. Mr. M.B. Dick to the witness stand. What did you observe?
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:50 am
by BSmack
Did Rumplewife breach?
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:10 am
by Y2K
OMG..A killer whale..
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:00 pm
by Diego in Seattle
At least five dead with one unaccounted for. One survivor is still in critical condition.
The tides are extreme up here, and might have played a part (it was low tide when the boat sank).
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:04 pm
by smackaholic
Talking about it on the news. Says it was calm. No idea why it happened, but, may have been mechanical issue. Or maybe the whales went moby dick on it. Can't imagine you'd last more than 20 minutes or so in that water. Sray might make it an hour or two though.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:22 pm
by Smackie Chan
smackaholic wrote:No idea why it happened
I'm thinking it hit the ice wall.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:43 pm
by Diego in Seattle
smackaholic wrote:Talking about it on the news. Says it was calm. No idea why it happened, but, may have been mechanical issue.
That's what I'm thinking. The engine perhaps went kaput, and the tidal currents pushed it near enough to the reef to damage the stern of the boat (no obvious damage to the bow in the pictures).
Or maybe the whales went moby dick on it.
Nope...not on a boat that big.
Can't imagine you'd last more than 20 minutes or so in that water.
That's about the size of it in 50º water.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 8:02 am
by Y2K
88 wrote:Did they at least get to see some whales before they went swimming?
They were looking for Orca's..those aren't whales. They were on a porpoise tour.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 8:43 am
by Diego in Seattle
Y2K wrote:
88 wrote:Did they at least get to see some whales before they went swimming?
They were looking for Orca's..those aren't whales. They were on a porpoise tour.
Their website primarily promotes seeing grey whales, and says they only see orcas about every 2-3 weeks. When I go looking for orcas I go up to the San Juan Islands in the middle of summer, not way up in BC.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 10:17 am
by Shlomart Ben Yisrael
Don't rule out foul play by the Kraken...
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 10:40 am
by smackaholic
Diego in Seattle wrote:
Y2K wrote:
88 wrote:Did they at least get to see some whales before they went swimming?
They were looking for Orca's..those aren't whales. They were on a porpoise tour.
Their website primarily promotes seeing grey whales, and says they only see orcas about every 2-3 weeks. When I go looking for orcas I go up to the San Juan Islands in the middle of summer, not way up in BC.
Isn't it easier to hit the local vfw hall like Dins? Don't even need a boat.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 2:04 pm
by Left Seater
What happens when global warming causes the ice wall to melt and all the water spills over the edge?
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:09 pm
by Shlomart Ben Yisrael
At least this thread isn't AP the Rod Of God thread.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:23 am
by poptart
'spray wrote:Too bad somebody couldn't have tilted the earth to where those people would have just slid into shore.
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 9:59 pm
by Shlomart Ben Yisrael
I'd sooner expect a guitar solo from that guy before LTS_TRD2...
Re: Whale Watching Boat Sinks
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 9:51 pm
by Derron
The word from some people in the know, (CG) is that all the lemmings were on one side of the boat looking a some whales and one of them silly old rogue waves came along and got them broadside and over she went.
Looked like an older converted boat with these "decks" on them. Get the weight up higher and not have enough ballast in the right spot and she will flip right over.
