Eleven people rescued from capsized canoe near West Vancouver's Ambleside Beach
RCMP's Tactical Marine Operations Group pulled all 11 people from the water after their canoe capsized Sunday during the Squamish Nation's Ambleside Canoe Races.
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All 11 people clinging to a capsized canoe were rescued Sunday near Ambleside Beach after high winds and rough seas flipped the vessel during the Squamish Nation's Ambleside Canoe Races.
RCMP's Tactical Marine Operations Group received a distress call around 3:30 p.m. while conducting security patrols during FIFA World Cup festivities. Four vessels were quickly deployed to the scene in Burrard Inlet, and officers immediately began pulling people from the water. Because some occupants were struggling to remain afloat, a tactical rescue diver was deployed to assist.
All 11 people were safely brought aboard police vessels. While some suffered from cold water exposure and hypothermia, no major injuries were observed. A second canoe from the races carrying another 11 passengers also flipped over, but those occupants were able to swim back safely as they were closer to shore.
Corpl. Brett Urano emphasized that this rescue highlights how quickly a day on the water can become an emergency. None of the rescued people were wearing life jackets. "Wearing a properly fitted life jacket can significantly increase survival and safety in the event of an unexpected capsize," he said.
