Skidegate community in mourning after death of two in fishing boat incident off Haida Gwaii

Two members of the community of Skidegate have died in a marine incident off the west coast of Haida Gwaii over the weekend. 

The two men were reported overdue when they failed to return to the community, the call for assistance relayed to Victoria's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre which dispatched Canadian Coast Guard resources to assist many from he Community that had already taken to the water in search of the pair.

Reports from the RCMP indicate that the two fishermen were discovered by the search party towards 1PM on Sunday, their bodies recovered by the Coast Guard.

The BC Coroners Service has taken over the file and will conduct an investigation into the incident.

Among the Coast Guard assets in use on the weekend were a Cormorant SAR helicopter,  CC-130H Hercules SAR aircraft from CFB Comox; along with the CCG Offshore patrol vessel Tanu and SAR Lifeboat Cape Mudge.

The Skidegate Health Centre organized a Sacred Fire in the memory of the two fisherman which took place on Monday.

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice was among those to send condolences to the families of those who passed from the marine incident.

More notes on the work of Emergency Responders across the Northwest and Haida Gwaii can be explored here.