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POWELL RIVER, B.C. — A late‑night search off Savary Island ended in tragedy Thursday after three men were found dead following the capsizing of a small vessel, Powell River RCMP confirmed.
The incident began around 11 p.m. on May 21, when Powell River RCMP received word from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) that a boat had overturned roughly 500 to 1,000 metres off Savary Island’s shoreline. Two men managed to swim to shore, but three others remained unaccounted for.
According to RCMP, the JRCC had already been alerted an hour earlier—around 10 p.m.—when the vessel failed to return to Lund Harbour as scheduled. That triggered a rapid deployment of search and rescue resources, including a Powell River Coast Guard lifeboat, an inshore fast rescue craft from Cortez Bay, and a Kingfisher aircraft from 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron based in Comox.
Powell River RCMP and Savary Island Fire crews conducted shoreline searches through the night. Despite extensive efforts, the three missing men were located deceased.
The two survivors were transported to Powell River, where Emergency Health Services assessed them before taking them to hospital.
RCMP say they are now assisting the BC Coroners Service as the investigation into what caused the vessel to capsize continues.
