One of two fishermen who went missing at sea off the Washington coast was found alive on a life raft in the Pacific Ocean two weeks after he went missing.
The unidentified fisherman was rescued by a Good Samaritan vessel 70 miles away from Cape Flattery, in the Northwest corner of Washington and west of Vancouver.
He was taken to shore by the Canadian Coast Guard and was reported to be in stable condition by the US Coast Guard Pacific Northwest.
According to the Coast Guard, a 43-foot boat named Evening left Westport, Washington, on October 12 with two people on board and was supposed to return on October 15.
The unidentified fisherman was rescued by a Good Samaritan vessel 70 miles away from Cape Flattery, in the Northwest corner of Washington and west of Vancouver
He was taken to shore by the Canadian Coast Guard and was reported to be in stable condition by the USCG Pacific Northwest
According to the Coast Guard, a 43-foot boat named Evening left Westport, Washington, on October 12 with two people on board and was supposed to return on October 15
The Coast Guard was notified this week of the missing boat. Officials began an elaborate search and covered an area of 14,000 square miles along the coastline for eight hours to find them.
Ultimately, they were forced to suspend the search but a Canadian crew found him drifting on a raft.
Ryan Planes and his uncle John, from Sooke, British Columbia, were out early with friends on a fishing excursion when they spotted the raft floating in the distance.
He told KING-TV Seattle: ‘I saw what looked like a life raft in the distance and ran inside and put the binoculars on him and then he shot off a flare.
‘We pulled him on board. He gave me a big hug and it was emotional.’ They soon contacted the Canadian Coast Guard.
John told officials that the man had spent 13 days alone on the raft and survived by eating salmon.
He told the publication: ‘We made him breakfast. He drank three bottles of water. He was pretty hungry, poor guy.’
The Canadian crew had never planned to go that far into the sea to catch but John decided to visit a ‘hot spot’ to try his luck.
Ryan Planes and his uncle John, from Sooke, British Columbia, were out early with friends on a fishing excursion when they spotted the raft floating in the distance
John told officials that the man had spent 13 days alone on the raft and survived by eating salmon
Ryan said: ‘I saw what looked like a life raft in the distance and ran inside and put the binoculars on him and then he shot off a flare’
‘We pulled him on board. He gave me a big hug and it was emotional,’ Ryan further said
His daughter, Rosie Planes wrote on Facebook: ‘This morning my dad and his crew spotted a castaway bobbing around in a small raft about 35 miles off the coast of Tofino.
‘It turns out he’s a tuna fisherman & has been missing from Washington state since bad weather hit Friday, October 13th. The coast guard called the search off October 20th.
‘My dad was going to head back to dry land yesterday but instead decided to ‘try his luck’ and head toward a ‘hot spot’ he knows well. It was there, off the bow of the boat, he’d lock eyes with an unfamiliar face that no one on board would soon forget.
‘I truly believe my father was called upon. He had a divine appointment and with that this man was saved!
‘I can’t imagine the heavy emotion & sheer joy in his heart. The frequency bursting through this moment and all the crew on board ~ it gives me intense feels just thinking about it.
‘Today I reflect on gratitude: for life, love and hope!’
The reason for the boat to go missing has yet not been determined.
U.S. Coast Guard public affairs specialist Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Magee said: ‘The cause of the incident resulting in the missing vessel and the individual being found aboard the life raft is currently under investigation.
‘A life raft can greatly increase your chances of survival.’
The USCG Pacific confirmed that the second fisherman remains missing and all searches have been suspended.