“Do you have time to save a life?”

Trevor Gains sold his boat and was about to load it onto the new owner’s trailer at Oak Bay Marina when Constable Brett Stewart ran up to ask if Gains had time to help save a life.

“I’ve never been asked that question before, but the answer is pretty obvious,” says Gains.

Stewart and Gains hopped in the boat and drove over to a man who was half-submerged and had been clinging to the side of his sailboat for over 25 minutes. They pulled him on board and brought him to emergency services waiting on shore.

While extremely weak from the ordeal, the man fully recovered from his exposure.

“I’m just grateful to be a part of it and to help another mariner in distress,” says Gains.

As for the buyer, he was left waiting on shore.

“He was probably wondering what was happening to his boat,” Gains laughs. “He understood though. I had been communicating with him for a week and he’s a really great guy. He owns the boat now. It’s got a bit of a story. It’s a perfect send off for the boat. The last thing you do with it, do something good.”