An injured fisherman was airlifted off a commercial boat while it was thrashing about in high seas close to Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Monday evening.
The fisherman suffered a potentially serious eye injury while working on a 20-metre commercial fishing vessel, 30 nautical miles northwest of Tofino, according to Capt. Trevor Reid, spokesman for Royal Canadian Air Force base 19 Wing Comox.
It was a “challenging rescue” for first responders, Reid said.
Obstacles including a smokestack, antennas and a bridge made it difficult for Search and Rescue technicians to land on the boat.
And once on the deck — after rescuers stabilized the fisherman and secured him in a basket to be hoisted by a waiting helicopter — the bobbing of the boat made completing the mission difficult, Reid said.
“The ship was pitching up and down, but we were able to hoist the patient and the [Search and Rescue technicians] back up as we hovered about 60 feet over the deck,” said Flight Engineer Corp. Kent Campbell, in a statement. He operated the hoist.
Treatment of the injured fisherman continued on board the helicopter. He was then transferred by BC Ambulance from 19 Wing Comox at 7:20 p.m and taken to hospital in stable condition, Reid said.
