Late one overcast and rainy afternoon, we were paged to rescue a mother and two young children who had been stranded on Sidney Island, off the east coast of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island. They were part of a larger camping group that had been partially taken back to Sidney on a private boat. Due to the worsening weather, the boat operator wisely decided not to return for the remaining campers, leaving the mother and children wet, cold, but safe on land. The boat owner immediately radioed for assistance.
After stowing extra blankets on board, we departed 14 minutes after receiving the call. We easily located the mom and kids on the dock, a bit wet but in good spirits. After helping them onboard, we loaded their camping gear onto our rescue vessel, got everyone into warm clothing and lifejackets, and wrapped the children in blankets. Due to the waves and sea spray, we had to proceed slowly on the way back.
The boat operator’s decision to stay put was indeed a wise one. Had they ignored the weather conditions and attempted to retrieve the remaining campers, this story could have had a very different outcome for everyone involved.
Later, grateful mom Zoe posted on social media: “A huge shout out to the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue volunteers who helped me, Theo, and my niece get safely back to Sidney on Sunday. You were professional, kind, and fantastic with the children. Our families are very thankful for your volunteer service to Vancouver Island.”
We wish to thank Zoe and her family for allowing us to use their names and photos in this story.