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Naval member rescued off Vancouver Island after spending more than two hours in water

Naval member rescued off Vancouver Island after spending more than two hours in water | iNFOnews.ca
People look on as the AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant helicopter demonstrates a search and rescue operation demonstration during the Defence on the Dock, CFB Esquimalt's open house where the base comes to the community and for the public a chance to meet Canadian Armed Forces and Maritime Forces at the Ogden Point Breakwater District in Victoria, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA — A member of the Royal Canadian Navy spent more than two hours in the waters off Vancouver Island after falling overboard.

Maritime Forces Pacific says the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria was alerted to the person falling overboard from a rigid-hull inflatable boat at about 2:45 Monday afternoon.

The incident happened about a kilometre east of Bentinck Island, near the southern tip of Vancouver Island and about 40 kilometres southwest of Victoria.

Rescuers launched multiple vessels, helicopters and other aircraft from both Canada and the United States, and the member was rescued at around 5 p.m.

Maritime Forces Pacific Commander Rear-Admiral David Patchell says in a statement that rescuers encountered difficult conditions, including high winds, large swells and a lack of lighting.

The navy says the member was conducting sentry duties off the Bentinck Island range when they fell overboard, although no cause of the incident has been released.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2025.

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The Canadian Press

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