Tuesday afternoon, Comox's 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron was tasked by Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria to provide assistance to a kayaker in distress in Malaspina Channel east of Texada Island.
The kayaker radioed in a call for assistance due to the poor weather conditions in Malaspina Channel.
A CH-149 Cormorant helicopter returning to Comox from a training mission was tasked to provide assistance to two Coast Guard rescue boats, a tugboat and an RCMP helicopter in the area looking for the kayaker.
The RCMP helicopter located the kayaker in Malaspina Channel to the east of Texada Island and marked the location for the the crew of the Cormorant by circling overhead. When the Cormorant arrived on scene the kayaker was maintaining control of a partially submerged kayak with a flooded cockpit in rough seas and high winds.
Two SAR Techs dressed in rescue swimming gear (drysuit, fins, mask and snorkel) jumped from the Cormorant and swam to the kayaker, and helped the kayaker from the kayak into a rescue basket, which was then hoisted into the Cormorant. The kayaker was transported by Cormorant to 19 Wing Comox then transferred by BC Ambulance Service to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
There is no update on the condition of the kayaker.