British ColumbiaMaritime Forces Pacific says the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria was alerted to the person falling overboard from an inflatable boat at about 2:45 p.m. Monday. They spent two hours in the water before being rescued.Member was conducting sentry duties off Bentinck Island range when they fell overboard Monday, navy saysThe Canadian Press · Posted: Dec 09, 2025 4:46 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 1 minuteThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.People look on as the AgustaWestland CH-149 Cormorant helicopter demonstrates a search and rescue operation demonstration in Victoria on Sept. 17, 2023. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press)A member of the Royal Canadian Navy spent more than two hours in the waters off Vancouver Island after falling overboard on Monday.Maritime Forces Pacific says the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria was alerted to the person falling overboard from a rigid-hull inflatable boat at about 2:45 p.m. PT.The incident happened about a kilometre east of Bentinck Island, near the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and about 40 kilometres southwest of Victoria.Rescuers launched multiple vessels, helicopters and other aircraft from both Canada and the United States.Maritime Forces Pacific Commander Rear-Admiral David Patchell said in a statement that rescuers encountered difficult conditions, including high winds, large swells and a lack of lighting.The member was rescued at around 5 p.m. PTThe navy says the member was conducting sentry duties off the Bentinck Island range when they fell overboard, although no cause of the incident has been released.
Naval member rescued off Vancouver Island after spending more than 2 hours in water
