The search for three West Coast residents continued on Saturday as local boaters, RCMP and search and rescue crews maintained their collaborative efforts.
Grateful for all the people & resources back out today searching for three much-loved men. Thanks for all the messages & love. , , teams from Alberni Rescue, Arrowsmith, , , & so many locals from
害羞草研究所� Josie Osborne (@Josie_Osborne)
Five men were tossed into the water when their tin boat sank near Duffin Cove around 3 a.m. Two were located, one pulled from the water and another who swam to shore.
Members of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation have been supporting each other at Tofino害羞草研究所檚 First Street Dock, waiting for updates on the three missing men.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e all focused really hard on resolving the situation in the best way that we can,害羞草研究所� Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Executive Assistant Connor Paone told the Westerly News at the dock on Saturday.
害羞草研究所淲e have a lot of committed professional people on the water, on land and in the skies right now害羞草研究所he mood on the dock is hopeful. It害羞草研究所檚 sorrowful because of the situation that害羞草研究所檚 going on, of course. Right now, we害羞草研究所檙e just trying to keep our spirits up. We have a lot of people here trying to cheer people up and we have a lot of support from all the communities on the Coast here helping us do that.害羞草研究所�
He added West Coast communities have proven their ability to come together in a crisis.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been here before. Every handful of years there害羞草研究所檚 a tragedy on the Coast and, every time that happens, you see all the communities come together,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淐ulturally speaking, the [Tla-o-qui-aht] Nation害羞草研究所檚 really close. All the families are really close with each other and anyone that害羞草研究所檚 involved or has been around can see that just with the amount of people that are here, the amount of donations that have come in from local businesses, from family members, from the community at large to help support the families and the people that are on and off the water searching.害羞草研究所�
While and handed the file over to the RCMP as a missing person害羞草研究所檚 case, Westcoast Inland Search and Rescue Manager Garth Cameron told the Westerly that the search team was bolstered Saturday morning with SAR crews arriving from Nanaimo, Comox and Courtenay.
害羞草研究所淏oth the Tla-o-qui-aht and have a ton of boats on the water and lots of boots on the ground,害羞草研究所� he added.
Cameron said the search害羞草研究所檚 momentum has not waned in the second day.
害羞草研究所淓verybody deals with tragedy differently. From a SAR manager point of view害羞草研究所e just push, push, push,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e always hopeful and it害羞草研究所檚 always a search. We害羞草研究所檙e looking for somebody. When we find that person, then we害羞草研究所檒l cross that bridge; whatever that bridge may be and I, for one, will never speculate that it害羞草研究所檚 something else besides a search. Right now, we are still looking for three missing people.害羞草研究所�
Paone said the best way for locals to assist is through donations of food and water to the search teams and that any boaters wanting to join the effort should check in at the dock first.
害羞草研究所淚f you want to get involved in the search, don害羞草研究所檛 just head out on your own,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淢ake sure you害羞草研究所檙e checking with Search and Rescue. If you害羞草研究所檙e unsure, the best thing to do is come down to the First Street Dock here and check in in person with them to make sure that we get you tasked out officially. The worst thing that could happen is to have another set of people head out there and get stuck themselves.害羞草研究所�
