Immediate and committed heroics saved the lives of five people whose vessel crashed into rocks between Tofino and Ahousaht during rough ocean conditions Saturday night.
“Ahousaht has always been a willing participant to save anyone who is in distress in our territory,” Ahousaht Chief Greg Louie told the Westerly News.
“Ahousaht is always willing to go out, whether it’s a calm, nice day, it’s dark at night or it’s a rough night like Saturday…It’s innate in their system, in their blood. They just know how important it is to respond and save lives the best that they can. Sometimes it’s not as lucky as this past weekend. Ahousaht people know that if our boats were in distress in another territory, we hope that another community would respond the same way Ahousaht does.”
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MARPAC spokesperson Michelle Scott told the Westerly News that the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Cape Ann arrived at the scene and assisted the responding Ahousaht mariners in the rescue.
BC Emergency Health Services spokesperson Sarah Morris told the Westerly that paramedics were called to the scene around 7:30 p.m.
“Two ambulances were dispatched; one paramedic crew attended with the Coast Guard to retrieve five individuals, while the other paramedics met the rescue team at the dock,” Morris said. “All five patients were cared for and transported to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.”
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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