- A missing fisherman has been found by a good Samaritan ship weeks after his disappearance 70 miles off the US coast
- His rescuers told officials that he survived in a life raft for 13 days and ate salmon
- The other missing fisherman has not been found and no search is underway
One of two fishermen who disappeared at sea off the Washington coast has been found alive on a life raft in the Pacific Ocean two weeks after his disappearance.
The unidentified fisherman was rescued by a good Samaritan ship 70 miles from Cape Flattery, in the northwest corner of Washington and west of Vancouver.
He was brought ashore by the Canadian Coast Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest reported he was in stable condition.
According to the Coast Guard, a 43-foot boat named Evening left Westport, Washington, on Oct. 12 with two people on board and was scheduled to return Oct. 15.
The unidentified fisherman was rescued by a good Samaritan ship 70 miles from Cape Flattery, in the northwest corner of Washington and west of Vancouver
He was brought ashore by the Canadian Coast Guard and is in stable condition, according to USCG Pacific Northwest
According to the Coast Guard, a 43-foot boat named Evening left Westport, Washington, on Oct. 12 with two people on board and was scheduled to return Oct. 15
The Coast Guard was notified of the missing boat this week. Officials began an extensive search, scouring an area of 14,000 square miles along the coast for eight hours to find her.
Ultimately they had to call off the search, but a Canadian crew found him floating on a raft.
Ryan Planes and his uncle John from Sooke, British Columbia, were on an early fishing trip with friends when they saw the raft floating in the distance.
He told KING-TV Seattle: “I saw what looked like a life raft in the distance, ran in and pointed the binoculars at him, and then he fired a flare.”
“We pulled him on board. “He gave me a big hug and it was emotional.” They soon contacted the Canadian Coast Guard.
John told officers that the man spent 13 days alone on the raft and survived by eating salmon.
He told the publication: “We made him breakfast.” He drank three bottles of water. “He was pretty hungry, poor guy.”
The Canadian crew had never planned to go so far out to sea to fish, but John decided to head to a “hot spot” to try his luck.
Ryan Planes and his uncle John from Sooke, British Columbia, were on an early fishing trip with friends when they saw the raft floating in the distance
John told officers that the man spent 13 days alone on the raft and survived by eating salmon
Ryan said: “I saw what looked like a life raft in the distance, ran in and pointed the binoculars at it and then he fired a flare.”
“We pulled him on board.” “He gave me a big hug and it was emotional,” Ryan continued
His daughter Rosie Planes wrote on Facebook: “This morning my father and his crew discovered a castaway bobbing in a small raft about 35 miles off the coast of Tofino.”
“It turns out he is a tuna fisherman and has been missing in Washington state since the storm on Friday, October 13th.” The Coast Guard called off the search on October 20th.
“My father wanted to return to land yesterday, but instead decided to ‘try his luck’ and head to a ‘hot spot’ that he knows well.” There, at the bow of the boat, he encountered an unknown one A face that no one on board would quickly forget.
“I really believe my father was called. He had a divine destiny and with that this man was saved!
“I can’t imagine the heavy emotion and pure joy in his heart.” The frequency that permeates that moment and the entire crew on board – it gives me an intense feeling just thinking about it.
“Today I reflect on gratitude: for life, love and hope!”
The reason for the boat’s disappearance is not yet clear.
Travis Magee, US Coast Guard public affairs specialist, said: “The cause of the incident in which the missing vessel and the person on board the life raft were found is currently under investigation.”
“A life raft can significantly increase your chances of survival.”
USCG Pacific confirmed that the second fisherman remains missing and all search operations have been suspended.