A Central Saanich man kept his young son’s head above water for almost half an hour after the boy fell out of their boat while crabbing off Island View Beach.
Police responded to a report that two people were in the water and were yelling for help about 2:20 p.m. Thursday.
Deputy Chief Derren Lench of Central Saanich police said the pair were in a smaller aluminum boat when the four-year-old boy fell into the water.
His father went in after him, Lench said.
“I think what happened was they were reaching over to pull up a crab trap when a wave from a larger passing boat hit their boat,” he said.
Lench said they were spotted by someone looking through binoculars.
The man was able to keep his son’s head above water and swim toward shore.
“Thankfully, the father reacted very quickly,” Lench said. “It was very close to having been a real tragedy.”
Father and son were in the water for about 20 to 30 minutes before they reached shore, police said. “They were exhausted at the end,” Lench said.
They were taken to hospital for assessment, but it appeared they did not suffer any injuries, police said.
Lench said there were life-jackets in the boat — as required — but neither the man nor the child was wearing one.
Transportation Canada requires that life-jackets or personal flotation devices be available for each passenger. Rules do not require that they be worn at all times, only that they be near.
Central Saanich police recommend that all boaters wear life-jackets.
“It’s foolish to not be wearing a life-jacket in a boat,” Lench said. If something happens, “you don’t have time to be getting your life-jacket out from under your seat.”
