1 dead after vessel capsizes near Vancouver’s Wreck Beach

A boat capsized off Vancouver’s Wreck Beach Monday afternoon, killing a man, emergency officials said.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) in Victoria said they received a distress call around 1:30 p.m. PT near the beach, which is close to the University of British Columbia’s Point Gray campus.

Vancouver Fire Rescue told CBC News they responded to a rollover near Route 3 in the 6100 block of Northwest Marine Drive and found a man floating in the water after his boat overturned.

“Our crew went into the water and the Coast Guard had already brought the unidentified man to shore,” Assistant Fire Chief Keith Stewart said.

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“The crew did the best CPR. Unfortunately, the unidentified man died from his injuries.”

Firefighters, along with JRCC first responders, were scouring the shoreline hours later in boats and helicopters to see if anyone was missing.

The search was called off around 6:20 p.m. when it was confirmed that only one person was on board when it capsized, the JRCC said.

“The [Canadian Coast Guard] “The dive team on board the Siyay was able to locate the vessel and clear it,” said JRCC spokeswoman Lt. Michelle Scott, who added that the RCMP is now leading the investigation.

The capsize came as a high wind warning was issued for the Howe Sound region north of Vancouver. An arctic air mass brings cooler weather and strong winds to the South Coast and Vancouver Island early in the week.