Three missing after five thrown into water off Tofino, B.C., as boat sinks

TOFINO, B.C. – A search is underway in the waters off the west coast of Vancouver Island after a small boat carrying five people went down early Friday.

Lt. Melissa Kia with the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria said the search began around 2 a.m., in waters just south of Tofino.

She said the open boat sank without declaring a mayday and the first indication of trouble came from callers to 911.

"Those were reporting that calls for help were being heard from the shoreline close to Duffin Cove, off of Tofino," Kia said.

The Canadian Coast Guard fast response boat from Tofino was among the first of two vessels and two aircraft assigned to the rescue.

"The fast response boat … has recovered one person from the water who was not wearing a life jacket," said Kia.

That person was transferred to paramedics in Tofino and a second person who swam to shore was also being treated in hospital, she said.

Three others remained unaccounted for in a search area that Kia said covers 41 square kilometres.

Although conditions are good and winds are light, she said strong southerly currents will be a factor in the rescue effort.

None of the five people has been identified and Kia said the search would continue "as long as there is any hope of finding these people alive."