A pleasure boat swooped in to rescue seven people on board a nearby sports fishing boat which was taking on water early Friday evening.
The 31-foot fishing boat was west of Pender Harbour when a mayday call was issued via radio at 5:20 p.m., reporting that the vessel was taking on water.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said rescue vessels from Powell River and Pender Harbour were dispatched.
About two minutes after the mayday broadcast went out, another pleasure boat in the area heard it and took all seven people on board, “just before the boat rolled over,” said marine search-and-rescue co-ordinator Dylan Carter.
The rescued boaters were taken into Pender Harbour.
The owner of the capsized boat arranged to have a salvage company retrieve the vessel, which did not sink, Carter said.
