A family of three, include a two-and-a-half-year-old, were rescued from Snake Island on Thursday. (submitted/Russell Berg)

By Spencer Sterritt

marine rescue

Family rescued from Snake Island after boat destroyed in choppy waters

Aug 12, 2021 | 3:41 PM

NANAIMO — A family of three was saved from a small, rocky island near Nanaimo after their boat was destroyed.

The family with a young two-and-a-half-year-old daughter were stranded on Snake Island after issues with their boat around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11. The waters at the time were rough and choppy with high winds.

Port of Nanaimo personnel and then Marine Search & Rescue Station 27 were called to rescue the family of three east of Newcastle Island.

Rescue technician Ward Clapham told NanaimoNewsNOW the family’s boat was three-quarters submerged and the soaked family was stranded on the rocks upon arrival.

Chapham described the location as tight and choppy, where the current had bashed the family’s boat against the rocks and left it unrecoverable.

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The family was taken aboard and checked for hypothermia, which they didn’t have. They were reassessed by paramedics on shore and cleared of any medical ailments.

Clapham said given the high winds and rough reef around Snake Island, the situation had the potential to be much worse.

He said it’s unclear how the boat ran aground on the island, whether it was due to mechanical failure in the rough seas or operator error.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt