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Victoria & Saanich Police Officers Team Up To Rescue Man From Sinking Boat In Gorge Waterway

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Date Published: 27 Dec 2019, Last Updated: 15 May 2025

File: 19-55841Victoria, BC – A man was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after VicPD and Saanich Police Department officers rescued him after his boat sunk in the Gorge Waterway this morning.Just after 4:35 a.m. this morning, both Saanich Police Department and Victoria Police Department officers, including VicPD Patrol and K9 officers, responded to a report of a boat sinking in the Gorge Waterway near the west side of Tillicum bridge. When officers arrived they discovered the boat had capsized, and a man, who lived aboard the boat with his dog, clinging to the side. The officers threw a line to the man.As the current moved the boat close to a nearby ladder exit, officers encouraged the man to swim for the ladder and pulled him towards shore using the line. The VicPD K9 officer then entered the ladder area, shielding the man with his own body to assist in the man’s safe exit, while the boat was swept away.Once out of the water, officers warmed the man with their jackets until BC Emergency Health Services Paramedics arrived, treated the man and transported him to hospital. Saanich Police officers were able to rescue the man’s dog safely.

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