VANCOUVER 鈥� A woman survived a six-hour overnight swim and the body of a man was later found washed ashore on an island in the Strait of Georgia after a speedboat carrying two capsized late Saturday, according to a navy official.
The pair's 17-foot boat overturned at about 9:30 p.m. near Texada Island, south of Powell River, but it was not until hours later that authorities knew the two were in trouble, said Lt. Paul Pendergast, with the Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre Victoria.
The woman swam for hours with help from a flotation device before she finally reached shore at Texada Island.
But the woman was not yet safe, said Pendergast, explaining that she had to hike across the island before she found a cottage and called for help at about 2:20 p.m. Sunday.
As soon as the call came in, a massive search effort began for the missing man, said Pendergast.
A body was spotted on the shore of Texada Island before dusk and the search was suspended. Mounties are now trying to identify the body to determine whether it is that of the missing man.
Search crews aboard a CC-115 Buffalo airplane and a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter were dispatched from 91原创 Forces Base Comox, the 91原创 Coast Guard sent out two 47-foot lifeboats and a hovercraft, and they were joined by a Royal 91原创 Marine Search and Rescue boat.
