One missing, four rescued as herring boat flips, sinks, in Georgia Strait

COMOX, B.C. – One person is missing and presumed drowned in the sinking of a herring seiner in northern Georgia Strait.

The Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination says the Prince Rupert-based Miss Cory capsized and sank quickly late Monday afternoon, just east of Comox, B.C.

Four people were rescued by a passing vessel but a fifth could not been found.

Officials with the rescue co-ordination centre say the crew member was in the engine room.

It’s believed the person was trapped in the nearly 18-metre seiner as it went down in 260 metres of water.

RCMP say by the time officers arrived at the docks, a search for the missing man was already underway.

They say the family of the missing man has been contacted and services have been offered to them and to surviving crew members.

“This is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with the family with the missing crew member,” said Corp. Jason Jenkins.

(News1130, The Canadian Press)