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Two fishermen are missing after boat sinks west of Victoria

Two fishermen missing

Two people are missing and the waters off Washington State are being searched after a fishing boat sunk Tuesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard reports that a fisherman was discovered in a lifeboat early Tuesday following the sinking of the 20-metre Arctic Fox II boat which took on water west of Victoria, approximately 137 kilometres off Cape Flattery, according to CTV News Vancouver Island.

Canadian Forces Base Comox dispatched two aircraft around 2 a.m., after receiving a mayday signal from the boat.

After the three people aboard abandoned ship, a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-115 Buffalo airplane attended the scene to help the U.S. Coast Guard in the search.

A rescue helicopter and surveillance plane were deployed to assist in the search.

Immediately after arriving on scene a lifeboat with one occupant was discovered where he was hoisted into a helicopter. The survivor said the two other missing fishermen were equipped with survival suits when they went overboard.

-with files from CTV News Vancouver Island



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