29 January 2013
A January 27, 2013 training exercise turned into a dramatic rescue for RCMSAR Stations 27 Nanaimo and 29 Ladysmith.
Coxswains Mike Banning in 27 Bravo, Barry Franzmann, 27 and 29's Owen Popplestone and Bill Bond (first tasking as a Coxswain) were tasked with their crews to a Pan Pan from JRCC. "Something in the water" from a concerned citizen was the call. Within the first few minutes of transit two people were located in the water waving for assistance. Station 27 retrieved one person, Station 29 the other, Station 27 Bravo picked up kayak and paddles. Station 29 transported one person to the enclosed cabin Station 27 boat as both survivors were showing signs of hypothermia - and no wonder! They had been in the water for 20 minutes already.
The consequences might have been deadly if these Stations had not been training in that area at that time! Response time would have been 30 plus minutes from Ladysmith or Nanaimo. Met by the ambulance at Boat Harbour, these were two lucky fellows. Note from Coxswain Mike – "Pan Pan was for South of Boat Harbour to Yellowpoint, when in fact scene was about 2nm North of Boat Harbour. Fortunately they were spotted and we all did not race by heading for the scene in the vicinity of what our preconceived understanding to be.
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