'Strong winds and turbulent waters' likely factors in Vancouver boat capsizing, killing 1: police

A 61-year-oldman has died after avessel capsized near Vancouver's Wreck Beach on Monday afternoon, according to emergency responders.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria said they received a distress call around 1:30 p.m. PT near the beach, which isclose to the University of British Columbia's Point Greycampus.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services told CBC News that they responded to the capsizing near Trail 3, at the6100-block of Northwest Marine Drive, and found a man who was floating on the water after his vessel overturned. In a Tuesday statement, the vessel was identified as a tugboat.

"Our crews went downto the water and the Coast Guard had already brought an ... unidentified male up on shore," Assistant Fire Chief Keith Stewart said.

"Crews did CPRthe best they could. Unfortunately, the unidentified male had succumbed to his injuries."

Firefighters, along with JRCCfirst responders, scouredthe shoreline with boats and helicopters for hours afterwards to see if anyone else was missing.

The search was called offat around 6:20 p.m. when it was confirmed there was only one person on board the vessel when it capsized,the JRCC said.

"The [Canadian Coast Guard] dive team on board the hovercraft Siyay was able to locate the vessel and clear it," said JRCC spokesperson Lt. Michelle Scott, who addedthat RCMPare now leadingthe investigation.

The capsizing comes as a high wind warning was issued for the Howe Sound region north of Vancouver on Monday. An Arctic air massis bringing cooler weather and high winds to the South Coast and Vancouver Island at the start of the week.

In a statement on Tuesday, University RCMP said that while the exact cause of the capsizing is not known, "exceptionally strong winds and turbulent waters" are likely to be factors.

"Tragically, despite an excellent coordinated effort by multiple responding agencies, the lone [boat] operator could not be revived," said Staff Sgt.Kris Clark.

Clark added that, along with the RCMP, the death will also be investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and WorkSafeBC.