The waters of the Georgia Strait became the stage for a dramatic rescue operation on June 28, 2026 as authorities scrambled to save lives after a charter boat sank near Roberts Bank. The incident, which occurred approximately 10 nautical miles southwest of Vancouver International Airport has left six people still unaccounted for, despite the heroic efforts of multiple rescue teams.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria was alerted to the emergency at around 11:45 a.m. by a civilian vessel that spotted several people in the water without personal flotation devices. The Canadian Armed Forces along with the RCMP and BC Ferries launched a massive search and rescue operation to locate and assist the missing individuals.
The rescue operation: a coordinated effort
A Cormorant helicopter and Kingfisher aircraft were dispatched to the scene, along with the Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft Siyay and the Main Lifeboat Station Ganges. Additionally, RCMSAR auxiliary stations 6, 7, and 8 as well as several BC Ferries vessels joined the search efforts. The coordinated response aimed to cover as much ground as possible in the vast and challenging waters of the strait.
By 1:15 p.m. four people had been successfully rescued and taken to the Sea Island Coast Guard Station before being transferred to emergency health services. However, the search for the remaining six individuals continued throughout the day and into the evening. Unfortunately, at 9:45 p.m. the decision was made to suspend the search and rescue operation, transitioning the efforts to the RCMP for further investigation.
A shocking discovery and a race against time
The initial discovery of the distressed individuals was made by Brian Angus and Dorothy Stauffer who were sailing their boat from Vancouver to Saturna Island. The couple spotted five people lying flat in the water near the south arm of the Fraser River with no visible signs of a vessel or debris.
“There’s no doubt they were hypothermic and none of them had life jackets on, which was really shocking,” Stauffer recounted. The couple immediately called in a mayday and began circling the group, using their dinghy as a makeshift life raft. They managed to rescue three of the five people, but the other two were lost from sight amidst the rough waters.
“We’ve sailed all our lives. We couldn’t see anything. It was such a surprise to see these five people in the water,” Angus said. The couple’s quick thinking and bravery played a crucial role in saving the lives of three individuals, but the fate of the remaining six people is still unknown.
The ongoing investigation and community support
The cause of the incident remains unknown, and the circumstances are still under investigation by the RCMP. The search efforts were further supported by the community, with BC Ferries diverting two vessels, the Queen of Alberni and the Coastal Inspiration to assist in the search. A Hullo passenger ferry also joined the efforts, demonstrating the collective determination to find the missing individuals.
Natasha Jung and her family were aboard the Queen of Alberni when the captain notified passengers of their involvement in the search. Jung witnessed the swift arrival of a hovercraft, helicopter, and numerous civilian vessels, all converging to support the rescue efforts. “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” she remarked, highlighting the unprecedented scale of the operation.
As the search continues, the focus remains on the three lives saved and the ongoing efforts to locate the six missing individuals. The community’s support and the coordinated response of the rescue teams underscore the importance of unity and swift action in the face of such tragic events.
