A woman is dead and a 25-year-old man is missing after a boat carrying five people capsized in the Pitt River, just south of Monroe Creek, Saturday morning.
Three of those on-board were rescued by passing boaters from the freezing water around 11 a.m. and were transported to hospital with hypothermia and shock-related injuries. After several hours of searching, the deceased woman was found on the Pitt Meadows side of the river.
B.C. Emergency Health Services responded to a call about a boating incident at Pitt Lake at 11:14 a.m., said spokesperson Andrea Visscher.
They sent two air amubulances and eight ground ambulances to the scene, said Visscher. Three people were transported to hospital.
The RCMP dive team has been activated to locate the missing man, Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said.
READ MORE: Eight boaters rescued from Pitt Lake
“Weather at the time was extremely windy creating large waves with swells and whitecaps, which is believed to be a contributing factor in the capsizing of the vessel,” he said.
McLaughlin added that alcohol and drugs are not factors. The boat has been located and will be seized as evidence as part of the investigation.
READ MORE: Search and rescue needs more help to find those lost in the wilderness
The search for the two other passengers triggered a large rescue response from Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows Fire Departments, BC Emergency Health Services, Coquitlam Search and Rescue, Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue, as well as the Coquitlam and Ridge Meadows RCMP.
ronan.p.odoherty@blackpress.ca
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