The whale watching boat accident that claimed the lives of five british nationals and left another person missing has many in the small town of tofino, b. The drowning deaths of six people during a whale watching trip off british columbia have been classified as accidental by the provinces coroners service. The leviathan ii, run by jamies whaling station, sunk after it was overcome by a rogue wave on oct. Five british nationals dead after whalewatching accident. Tour company jamies whale watching station, which had a previous fatal accident, says crew had no time to avert boats sinking off vancouver island. Whalewatching tour company calls fatal capsizing in. Whalewatching tragedy in tofino, british columbia the.
Coroner confirms identities of 5 tofino whale boat disaster victims. Ari sarsalari reports on the tragedy that happened while whale watching tofino, british columbia. The hot springs cove tour offers something for everyone and is a favourite among visitors. Whale watching trips from tofino, a town of about 2,000 people that relies heavily on the tourist trade, have been suspended while the rescue effort continues. Tsb report back to video six people, five britons and one australian, died in the capsizing and 21 others were rescued on oct. Tofino for those who live and work in tofino and in the nearby first nations community of ahousaht, the whale watching boat accident that killed at least five people has been a draining experience. Transportation safety board tofino whale watching accident civil suit leviathan ii whale. Six killed after whalewatching boat capsizes in tofino. The search and rescue effort of four victims of a capsized whale watching zodiak near plover reef in clayoquot sound on march 22, 1998.
Tofino, a popular destination for whale watchers that is at the very tip of a peninsula some 200 miles 320km northwest of. Tofino whale watching accident leads residents to gather for support. Whale watching tragedy in tofino, british columbia. Tofino whalewatching accident kills five people youtube.
Officials update investigation in tofino whale boat accident 02. The bow of the leviathan ii, a whale watching boat owned by jamies whaling station, is seen near vargas island, tuesday, october 27, 2015 as it waits to be towed into tofino, b. In a statement on the companys website, owner jamie bray said. Class action lawsuit filed by two survivors of tofino whale. The bc coroners service says five people have died after a whale watching vessel sank off the coast of tofino, b.
Whale watching tour company calls fatal capsizing in tofino an act of god. Six killed after whale watching boat capsizes in tofino paul r. Tofino whale watching accident survivors file lawsuit two german brothers are accusing the tour company of negligence. The tragic sinking of a whale watching boat off the coast of tofino, b. Rescuers pulled 18 survivors from the frigid waters and they appear to. Reporter jeff lee is in tofino to cover the accident involving a whale watching boat in which at least 5 people were killed when their boat. Tofino whalewatching accident leads residents to gather. Tofino whalewatching company had another fatal accident. Coroner rules deaths of 6 in tofino whale watching tragedy as accidental. Five dead and one missing after boat sinks off tofino video online, on globalnews. Whale watching, bear watching, hot springs, kayaking and. Five british nationals died in the whale watching accident just off tofino on sunday afternoon and one is unaccounted for.
Reporter jeff lee is in tofino to cover the accident involving a whale watching boat in which at least 5 people were killed when their boat sank. Report into tofino whalewatching tragedy recommends. By christine tippett view the story 5 british citizens dead, 1 missing in tofino whale watching accident on storify. Officials update investigation in tofino whale boat accident. Rescuers who came to the aid of the victims of a capsized whale watching boat near tofino, b. A life jacket is seen in the waters northwest of tofino, british columbia, canada where the whale watching boat capsized.
The british foreign secretary confirmed the nationalities of those who died after a whale watching boat sank. Officials from canadas transportation safety board say most of the passengers and crew were on the top. At least four people died when a whale watching boat capsized off the coast of tofino in british columbia. C inside the sinking of leviathan ii by nancy macdonald february 26, 2016 the leviathan ii whale watching ship capsized last october, killing six. Tofino whalewatching accident survivors file lawsuit. Tofino trying to get back to normal after tragic whale. It wasnt the first fatal accident on the whale watching companys record. The crew of a whale watching boat tried and failed to avoid a large breaking wave that sank the vessel, killing six off the canadian. Whale tours tofino s waters, known as the clayoquot sound, is the best whale watching location in the world as the waters are rich with food. The last whale watching accident in tofino happened in 1998, when two people were killed. Coroner rules deaths of 6 in tofino whalewatching tragedy.
Tofino is in mourning today, as canadians and international folks alike have no doubt heard. Australian mans body found after canada whalewatching. Officials report likely cause of whalewatching boat sinking. Geordon omand and terri theodore, the canadian press. Owner of whalewatching tour makes first statement about. Leviathan ii whalewatching tragedy caused by breaking. Most of the passengers that sank on a whale watching boat that sank in canada were on one side of a boat when a freak wave hit, investigators have said. My thoughts are with the family and friends of all those affected by this terrible accident. Tofino for those who live and work in tofino and in the nearby first nations community of ahousaht, the whale watching boat accident that killed at least five people has been a draining. Whenever you visit tofino or ucluelet, join us for an incredible day of wilderness, wildlife, and natural hot pools. Eyewitness reveals how whalewatching boat sank off.
At least four people died when a whale watching boat capsized off the coast of tofino. Large wave overturned tofino whale watching vessel, killing six. Coroner confirms identities of 5 tofino whale boat. Twentyseven people were on board the mv leviathan ii when it sank on sunday afternoon off the west coast of vancouver island. Australian mans body found after canada whale watching accident. The boat capsized off tofino, a popular destination for whale watchers. The leviathan ii launched from tofino on a whale watching venture this afternoon, and is believed. Tour boat operators must do a better job identifying hazardous waves according to an investigation into the capsizing of the leviathan ii whale watching boat near tofino, b.
Tsb to release report into deadly whalewatching incident. John forde, owner of the tofino whale centre, said it. Five britons who died when a whale watching boat sank off the coast of canada were not wearing life jackets although plenty were available, the local coroner said. Leviathan ii whale watching tragedy caused by breaking wave. The capsizing of a whale watching boat that led to at least five deaths near tofino this weekend marks the second fatal incident and third major accident for. Scenes from tofino the day after the leviathan ii sank on oct. Five people are dead and another is missing after a whale watching ship capsized sunday off the west coast of vancouver island, triggering a rescue effort that saw 21 others who were on board the vessel brought ashore.