'They were lucky': 5 crew members saved from sinking mussel boat in Malpeque Harbour

All the crew members of a mussel-fishing boat that ran aground off Malpeque Harbour on P.E.I.'s North Shore Monday morning were rescued by members of the local fire department after having to take refuge on the vessel's roof. 

The 15-metre vessel ran aground on a sandbar and started taking on water in rough seas just after 8 a.m. Monday, said Timothy Wall, a fisherman from the area.

The New London Fire Company told CBC News there were five people aboard, all of them wearing life jackets at the time of the rescue.

The fire department's new rigid inflatable boat was able to get all five crew members off of the sinking vessel just after 9 a.m. 

A spokesperson for the Canadian Coast Guard's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax said there were no medical issues or injuries reported among the crew.

The spokesperson said the plan is to tow the boat out of the harbour sometime today.

Firefighter describes how dangerous seas complicated P.E.I. mussel boat rescue

7 months ago

Duration 1:04

'The tide was coming in fast, the wind was on our face and the waves were really, really big,' says firefighter Alan Doucette, who helped bring five fishing crew members back to land.

Wall said the boat was trying to bring a load of mussels in when it struck the sandbar.

"When the boat went aground, everybody just kind of climbed on the side, then they had to climb on the roof," he said. "It's dangerous — it's rocky and it's windy and it's cold."

'The system works'

Alan Doucette, a firefighter and medical first responder with the New London department, was aboard the rescue craft. He said the water conditions and depth made it difficult for other nearby fishing boats to assist, since they would have been in danger of getting stranded as well.  

RAW: Fishing boat takes on water off Malpeque Harbour

7 months ago

Duration 0:26

The crew of a fishing vessel that started taking on water on P.E.I.'s North Shore has been rescued, according to reports from people at the scene. Video from the scene shows the crew waiting for rescuers to arrive. Submitted by Timothy Wall.

"The tide was coming in fast, the wind was in our face and the waves were really, really big. They were crashing over the boat," Doucette said. 

"They were lucky, but they did everything right," he said of the crew members.

"They put their life jackets on, they got up high on the vessel, they radioed out for help, the other boats came [and] we came along. The system works." 

The New London Fire Company received the rigid inflatable boat earlier this year.

Because it was available, the rescue crew was able to make it to the stranded fishermen "before things went bad," said firefighter Jonathan Gillis.

"We just had Mother's Day and the very next day we just rescued five guys — five dads, fathers, uncles, you know — and that makes a big difference in a small community like P.E.I."

Other Malpeque fishers relieved after rescued crew brought home safely

7 months ago

Duration 1:15

Folks at Malpeque Harbour breathed easy Monday morning after learning the crew of a capsized boat had been rescued and everyone aboard was safe. Here is what some people on the wharf, including Kyle Cameron and Brandon Gaudet (shown) had to say about the dramatic incident.