BC Ferries crews rescue 2nd person overboard in as many days

Two days in a row this week, BC Ferries crews mounted rescue efforts after passengers went overboard.

BC Ferries crew members dealt with a person overboard for the second time in just over 24 hours Thursday.

The provincial ferry service confirmed Friday that “an individual went overboard” during the 5 p.m. sailing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen on the Spirit of British Columbia.

“Crews immediately deployed a rescue boat and were able to locate the individual, who was then transferred to a Coast Guard vessel,” BC Ferries said in a statement.

It marks the second such emergency on a ferry in as many days, after someone fell off the Spirit of Vancouver Island by accident on Wednesday.

The passenger in that incident was also found and transported to shore, where ambulance paramedics were waiting to provide care.

“Having one incident like this is unusual, and two in such a short timeframe is rare,” BC Ferries said. “All of our crew members undergo Transport Canada mandated training in marine safety and are trained to respond quickly in these types of situations. Regardless, these incidents are distressing for everyone involved, including passengers and crews.”

The latest incident delayed the Spirit of British Columbia’s arrival in Tsawwassen and led to delays on the vessel’s two later sailings on the route Thursday night.

“Intentionally going overboard (or throwing items overboard) is extremely dangerous and can cause significant disruption to service,” BC Ferries said. “To protect everyone’s safety, actions like this may also lead to consequences such as travel restrictions, fines, or legal proceedings, depending on the circumstances.”

Asked whether it’s alleging the passenger who went overboard Thursday night did so intentionally, BC Ferries told CTV News “the circumstances surrounding this latest incident are still under investigation.”

“We really just wanted to reiterate the importance of safety,” a spokesperson said, in an email.

“It creates a life-threatening emergency for the individual involved, puts our crews at risk, and disrupts service for everyone else on board.”