Lobster fisherman survives close call, urges safety while on the water

A lobster fisherman from Port Saunders, N.L. had a close call on the water off of Newfoundland's west coast — and is warning others to be safe on the ocean. 

It was supposed to be another day on the water for Boyd Lavers, a veteran fish harvester with 40 years' experience.

But the situation quickly changed when his leg became entangled in a rope, pulling him overboard. He wasn't wearing a floatation device.

"One of the crew members grabbed the knife and he ran up to me," Lavers told CBC Radio's The Broadcast on Monday.

"I was actually hanging upside down over the boat at this time and he cut the rope."

Lavers says the situation happened so quickly that he didn't have time to feel afraid.

Two other crew members were also tangled in the rope and were unable to come to his aid, he said. Typically, he says, he has a crew of three. But that day they had a fourth crew member.

"Luckily we had an extra guy on board that was able to get a knife and get us freed up after some time," Lavers said.

Lavers says that was the first time he'd had such a life-threatening experience.

"It was a real eye-opener," he said, adding it was only when he got home later that day that he realized how serious the situation was.

"Drowning was actually the last thing on me mind at the time."

Urging caution

Lavers says he considers himself fortunate, because despite some injuries like his bruised ribs, he will be able to fish again.

Looking back, he says the crew could have been more cautious about where they stepped in the boat and where the rope was.

A few years ago Lavars took part in a search and rescue operation for some missing young men from Labrador, and it prompted him to insist his crew wear life-jackets. He says they did it consistently for two years without missing a day.

However, on the day of his near-miss, he says everyone was in a rush to get fishing.

"This was the first day in two years that we never had those life preservers on," Lavers said. "The only day that we needed them in 40 years, we didn't have them."

Lavers says the incident is a good reminder of the importance of safety at sea, and he says he won't go out without his life-jacket ever again.

He's urging boat owners and captains to get their crews to consistently wear flotation devices.

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