Credit, US Coast Guard
Fisherman found by Canadians after US Coast Guard had already given up
A fisherman who went missing nearly two weeks ago has been found alive, floating in a lifeboat about 70 miles off the US west coast.
He was found by a Canadian boat on Thursday (10/26), according to the US Coast Guard. The day before, the coast guard had abandoned the search.
The man, who has not been identified, left Grays Harbor, Washington, on October 12, aboard the boat Evening.
Authorities have not released the names of the rescuers, but a Seattle television station identified Ryan Planes and his uncle John as those who rescued the fisherman. They are both from Sooke, a city in Canada.
“I saw what looked like a lifeboat in the distance and I ran over and grabbed some binoculars. Then he let off a flare,” Ryan told the station.
“We brought him on board. He gave me a big hug and it was emotional,” John said.
John also said the fisherman told him he had been alone on the raft for 13 days and had caught a salmon after running out of food.
“We made him breakfast. He drank three bottles of water,” John said. “He was really hungry, poor guy.”
Credit, US Coast Guard
The evening fishing boat (photo) has not yet been found
Incident under investigation
The fisherman is in stable condition, according to authorities, and was brought back to the mainland by the Canadian Coast Guard and another rescue agency. He was transported to a hospital in Canada for further treatment before returning to the United States.
The man and another sailor aboard the Evening were supposed to return home Oct. 15, authorities said.
But the days passed and the boat gave no news. The U.S. Coast Guard searched for them for two weeks, but suspended the search the day before the Canadians discovered the fisherman.
The other sailor who was present that evening has not been found and the Coast Guard says the incident “remains under investigation.”
It is unclear whether they plan to resume the search.
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