Three people and a dog are safe after a boat capsized on Marsh Lake, near Whitehorse, on Monday, July 19.
At 6:35 pm, Whitehorse RCMP received a call that a sailboat had capsized on Marsh Lake, with two people missing in the water. The caller, on a separate boat, said that his own boat was disabled and he had lost sight of the occupants of the capsized boat. According to the report, none of the people in the water were believed to be wearing life jackets or personal floatation devices. Bad weather including strong wind and lightening increased the risk to the people reported to be in the water and rescue operators who deployed to assist.
Whitehorse RCMP and Yukon Search and Rescue (YSAR) both deployed boats on the lake. Police also worked with a private helicopter company, Capital Helicopters, and their pilot to search the lake. At around 7:40 pm, those in the helicopter found the boaters in the water.
A police officer trained in water rescues, wearing a dry suit and PFD, went into the water from the helicopter. He spent considerable time ensuring that one person reached shore and the other was able to safely board the RCMP boat when it arrived on scene. A dog that had been on the capsized boat was also found safe and later returned home by RCMP. The dog had been wearing a life jacket. The disabled boat and its operator were escorted to shore to ensure they also got off the water safely.
A medic from the YSAR and paramedics from Yukon Emergency Medical Services checked the health and wellbeing of the rescued boaters, as they had been in the water for a significant length of time. They were transported to hospital for assessment. For privacy reasons, further personal details will not be released.
Adverse weather and wind conditions on the lake are believed to have contributed to this incident. Police do not believe alcohol or drugs to be a factor.
"Cold water here in the Yukon can make it difficult even for strong swimmers to survive in the water for long periods of time," says Cpl. Cameron Long, RCMP search and rescue coordinator for Yukon Territory. "Anyone spending time on or near the water should be wearing a lifejacket or PFD at all times and be cautious of changing weather conditions."
"The admirable effort of YSAR and the helicopter pilot working alongside our members and other aircraft in the area to safely resolve this incident has made an impact and difference in the lives of three individuals," says Whitehorse RCMP detachment commander Inspector Lindsay Ellis. "Whitehorse RCMP wishes to thank YSAR, EMS and Capital Helicopter pilot Melvin Lagersson for their outstanding work."
Whitehorse RCMP and Yukon Search and Rescue have been involved in several water rescues or assists so far in summer 2021. In addition to wearing a lifejacket or PFD, boaters need to ensure that they have at least the minimum safety equipment on board for their boat type and length. Required gear generally includes, at the very minimum, at least one lifejacket or PFD for each person on board, watertight signalling devices like flashlights or flares, and a sound-signalling device like a whistle.
More information about safe boating, including specific requirements for equipment for specific types of watercraft, is available from Transport Canada.