A boater's attempt to paddle from shore to his sailboat using a makeshift raft ended in failure early Tuesday morning.
Just before 1 a.m. Nov. 26, police received a report of a male in the water near the Oak Bay Marina. Upon arrival, officers spotted an individual clinging to the side of a sailboat, yelling for help.
"One officer made verbal contact to reassure him, while another activated sirens to alert any nearby live-aboard residents who might assist while waiting for the Coast Guard rescue boat," the Oak Bay Police Department said in a news release, adding that a third officer met with a Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue team, which was preparing to launch a rescue boat.
Soon, a live-aboard resident used a small dinghy to assist the man, before the Search and Rescue boat arrived.
Once ashore, B.C. Emergency Health Services treated the individual, who was then transported to Royal Jubilee Hospital, where doctors deemed his condition not life-threatening.
An officer later visited the hospital to gather more information.
"The individual explained that he attempted to return to his sailboat from shore," according to the release from Oak Bay Police. "Without a tender, he constructed a makeshift raft from branches to float to his boat but was unable to climb aboard due to the cold."
The incident prompted advice from Oak Bay Police Deputy Chief Kris Rice. "This incident highlights the importance of water safety and the need for proper equipment when venturing out on the water."
