Kayak trip ends with dramatic rescue of teens

Rob Shaw, Times Colonist

By Rob Shaw, Times Colonist Staff

Two teenagers are lucky to be alive after attempting what locals called an "absolutely insane" kayak trip from Hornby to Texada islands Saturday afternoon that quickly turned into a massive late-night search and rescue operation.

The 18 and 19-year-old Lower Mainland men were vacationing with friends on Hornby when, at around 3 or 4 p.m., they began their kayak voyage.

It is unclear if the men knew they were embarking on a 33 kilometre round-trip journey that locals estimate would take a seasoned kayaker 10 hours to complete in good weather.

But the teenagers were inexperienced and didnt take the most basic of provisions such as a cell phone, life jacket, survival gear, or even coats, said Capt. Cheryl Robinson of 19 Wing Comox. "They only had T-shirts and shorts," she said.

When the young men failed to return eight hours later, a friend on Hornby Island phoned the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria.

The rescue operation ran throughout the night. A Cormorant Helicopter and Aurora aircraft from 19 Wing scoured the water.

The coast guard sent boats from French Creek and Powell River, as well as Coast Guard Auxiliary Volunteer boats from Deep Bay (Unit 59), Comox (Unit 60) and Lasqueti Island. In all, at least 32 search and rescue personnel were involved. The men were found after the sun rose Sunday camping in a hand-made shelter on a remote Texada Island cliffside.

Their kayaks were found floating half a kilometre away. The men said they spent hours on the cold, rough, sea after the sun went down, and often lost sight of each other in large waves before landing on the island, said Robinson.

A helicopter took them to Comox where they were treated for scrapes, bruises and possible mild hypothermia, she said.

"I think they were amazed they were alive and thankful they were alive," said Robinson. "I dont think theyll be making that trip again any time soon."

The men would have lasted less than an hour in the water had they fallen out of their kayaks, said Robinson.

The teenagers were picked up by their parents in Comox and returned to the Lower Mainland Sunday, said Robinson.

Rescue calls such as this one become more frequent starting around the May long weekend when people start to take advantage of warm weather for trips on the water, said Robinson.

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