Marine

9.1, capsizing, fatality

Canada: fishing (general) Westisle (99 gt, built 1982) capsized in the Pylades Channel, resulting in the death of one crew member. Searchers recovered a man’s body on the shore of Mudge Island, near where the Vancouver-based vessel capsized in heavy seas while it had its nets out. Four other crew members were rescued by a fifth man who was operating the vessel’s skiff. The five survivors were taken to Nanaimo regional hospital and treated for hypothermia. The capsizing triggered at least four investigations, including ones by the Transportation Safety Board, the RCMP, the B.C. Coroners Service and the Canadian Fishing Company (Canfisco), which owned the Westisle . The Westisle was conducting a food herring fishery in Pylades Channel when it ran into trouble. Searchers found several coldwater immersion survival suits floating near the wreckage, leading them to believe none of the fishermen were wearing them when the Westisle capsized.