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Lighthouse keeper, BC Ferries staff team up to save boater

Crew of Kahloge find boater atop capsized skiff
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The Chrome Island lighthouse station

Terry Farrell

Record staff

A boater has a lighthouse worker and BC Ferries personnel to thank for saving his life on Saturday afternoon.

During the regular noon sailing between Hornby and Denman islands, the captain of the Kahloge overheard the lighthouse keeper from Chrome Island on Marine FM radio making a plea to Coast Guard, after hearing cries for help emanating from the water.

“We diverted the Kahloge down to the southern tip of Denman Island, just off of Chrome Island,” said Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries' executive director of public affairs. “Then the Kahloge launched the rescue boat and we had two of our staff members go over and assist this man.”

They found the boater atop an overturned 12-foot aluminum skiff.

“The man was on top of the skiff, basically clinging to it,” said Marshall. “He was suffering from hypothermia. He had been there about 20 to 25 minutes, is our estimate.”

The rescue team transported the man to the Chrome Island lighthouse, where he was tended to, until the Coast Guard arrived.

“We are very thankful for the quick action of this crew, to be able to help this mariner out,” said Marshall. “And kudos to the lighthouse keeper who called it in.”

Marshall said at the time of the rescue the waves were reaching eight feet in height, and the man was not wearing a lifejacket.