A 75-year-old man was hospitalized on Tuesday night after his boat sank in the Nanaimo Lakes area, police announced Friday. Nanaimo RCMP said they received reports just before 7:30 p.m. that the man had gone fishing that morning but hadn’t returned home. Mounties were told the fisherman’s family and friends searched for him but were unsuccessful. Responding officers went to Nanaimo Lakes and found his boat and trailer, and the search escalated when they didn’t find him with them. “Given his age, medical condition, and the amount of time he had been overdue, the investigation was immediately treated as high-risk, and (Nanaimo Search and Rescue) was activated, deploying approximately 25 volunteers, boats, and specialized search resources,” Nanaimo RCMP detailed in a release. “At approximately 10:15 p.m., NSAR located the man standing in the water near his capsized boat in medical distress.” Mounties say NSAR medics provided care at the scene, and he was transferred to the care of B.C. Emergency Health Services. BCEHS told CTV News that paramedics provided emergency medical care and transported the patient to hospital in serious condition. Nanaimo RCMP Insp. Donovan Tait said in the release that NSAR’s quick response “played a critical role in locating this individual and ensuring he received the medical attention he needed.” “We’re grateful this search had a positive outcome and are proud of the dedication shown by the many volunteers who gave their evening to help bring someone home safely,” NSAR president Carly Trobridge added, in the release.
