Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit 20

By now you will no doubt have heard about the tragic float plane crash at Lyall Harbour on November 29th that claimed the lives of six of the eight people aboard.   You may have seen, heard or read reports of the incident but most likely there was little if any mention of your local Coast Guard Auxiliary involvement.  We did have a major role in this incident particularly as we were the first resource on scene and I am told our quick response may well have saved a life.  Here's how the incident unfolded for us...

Shortly after 4pm on the Sunday afternoon we were arriving back at our Port Browning base from a training session when we heard the mayday broadcast for the accident just as our pagers also went off.  Without even getting off Auxiliary 20 we departed for Lyall Harbour with a crew of five and arrived on scene in about 12 minutes.  At this time the float plane had sunk and one of the survivors is aboard a local dinghy being taken ashore but the other survivor is still in the water and being kept afloat by another local dinghy that had responded. 

We carry emergency equipment aboard our vessel including a floating back-board, floating basket stretcher, oxygen and first aid kits and were able to use this equipment to get this patient ashore without further injury.  One of our members remained with the patient until they were loaded aboard an air ambulance helicopter for transfer to hospital.  We were involved in the search for other passengers that may have escaped from the wreckage until we were stood-down at midnight.  Other resources involved in the search include the Coast Guard with two boats and two hovercraft, the Sidney Coast Guard Auxiliary unit, a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft from CFB Comox and ground search personnel.

Arriving at this incident we had no information as to how many people had escaped from the plane and it was very disappointing for us that there were not more survivors we could assist.  Our members wish to extend their condolences to all family and friends of the victims.  This event was the fourth fatal incident we were tasked on in 2009 and was the most demanding as we were the first resource to arrive on scene and as this involved multiple fatalities. 

All volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary members spend a lot of time taking courses and in classroom and on-water training.  As you can see we are ready to respond to a lot more than boaters aground or broken down.

On a lighter note I would like to announce a change in our unit leadership.  After the last two years as Unit Leader and the previous two years as Deputy Unit Leader I am handing over the Unit Leader position to Elizabeth Wilkes.  I will be remaining with the unit as a coxswain.  Elizabeth has been a valuable member of the unit for nearly four years and I am confident she will do a great job as Unit Leader; she can be contacted by e-mail at unit.20@ccga-p.ca. 

Best wishes to everyone for the new-year and wishing you all safe boating.

Roger Pilkington