Death @ Langara Island Yesterday

[Dogbreath]

Sad to hear of the death by drowning of a guest with OBMG @ Langara Island yesterday, just got off the phone with my Buddy who lives/works up there, Staff @ all the lodges are quite upset as you can imagine.

Another reminder of how close we are to tragedy even while enjoying ourselves on the water.

 

[highlights]

Is there a media release yet?

 

[goalie]

Man dead in fishing boat mishap
The Province
Published: Thursday, July 10, 2008
A man died and a woman was rescued from the waters off Langara Island after a fishing boat overturned in Dixon Entrance north of the Queen Charlotte Islands yesterday.

The joint search and rescue co-ordination centre in Victoria responded to a mayday call of the overturned boat at about 10 a.m. Langara Lodge and the North Island Lodge sent a boat out that rescued the female, who was taken to hospital. The man was found unconscious in the water.

Crew aboard the coast guard ship Arrowpost assisted at the scene but were unable to revive the man after performing CPR for about an hour.

 

[farny]

Why did the boat turn over?

 

[GLG]

Sad news.
I am truly sad for the families, friends and co-workers of all involved.
GLG

 

[Dogbreath]

quote:Originally posted by farny
Why did the boat turn over?

I was told that the conditions were so rough that Langara Fishing Lodge had placed the Lighthouse area 'Out of Bounds' to it's guests, no idea if OBMG has such a system but if they do the guest ignored it.

 

[Hoochiebob]

If it was one of their self guided sardine cans,then I can see it happening- you wouldn't catch me on the west side with one of those,let alone the lighthouse area.
I do hope that this incident doesn't leave a blemish on OBMG- it may lead to more trouble for all charter/resort businesses

 

[Dogbreath]

quote:Originally posted by Hoochiebob

If it was one of their self guided sardine cans,then I can see it happening- you wouldn't catch me on the west side with one of those,let alone the lighthouse area.
I do hope that this incident doesn't leave a blemish on OBMG- it may lead to more trouble for all charter/resort businesses

I was told it was a small Boston Whaler of the kind that the Marabell uses.

People remember the adverts about Whalers not sinking I suppose what they forget is that you can fall out of any boat/it can tip on you given the right/wrong conditions.

And Yes the Transportation Safety Board will no doubt be investigating.

When I was with Langara Fishing Lodge back in May the safety programme they had was very thorough but nothing on earth can protect people from themselves.

 

[Hoochiebob]

you are right about that,Dogbreath

 

[highlights]

In all honesty , it blows my mind that something has not happened sooner. I guided up there for years for various lodges and have seen alot of ........ well like I said it was bound to happen eventually

Either way a very sad incident for sure.


Our sympathies.

 

[GLG]

It has happened before. Here is a link to the TSB accident report.
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/marine/1999/m99w0095/m99w0095.pdf
When the weather turns it’s a dangerous area up there for a small boat.
GLG

 

[richmake]

The fact is...having a resort like that with unguided guests can eventually be alot more risky in bad weather....eventually something tragic will happen....
I really feel sorry for all that's involved and it just goes to show us all how accidents can happen...let's all be safe out there.

www.coastwidesportsfishing.com

 

[Cuba Libre]

Richmake is right... Anyone can buy a boat-- take the mickymouse boaters test and consider they know what they are doing. The west coast is just not the place to find out that you dont know it all. Especially if inexperienced boaters are fishing surge zones... Sad,,,




20ft Alumaweld Intruder

 

[likwit]

i've worked at lodges and seen several near misses.
what i don't get and am not sure about is where is the buddy boat?
reading that previous accident report, there was no other boats around when they capsized, and its sounds like this accident is the same.
every lodge i've worked at has been very definitive about not going to an area alone, whether guided or not.
there is no way lodges, especially with unguided boats, should allow boats alone in a place like QCI.

 

[TheRock]

I was fishing in the QC at Inglefield this May. We had one guide for two boats and his one big rule was the buddy boat has to be in visual distance at all time. We were changing spots and both our boats together we went to the North end of Inglefield bay, we were the only two boat up there, it was rough water when we got there.. low and behold there is one boat fishing this one spot all by him self with no body boat !!!.. Oh our guide was pissed !.. we came up beside them and he gave them ****, and reminded them of the resort rules. The rules are in place for a reason... if the guests don't obey them.. its there own doing.. fisherman error.. if the guides close an area off cause its to rough and the guests don't obey it and go in there with out a buddy boat.. its there own fault.. if you follow the resort rules.. it would not of happened...