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Hartley Bay Rescuer Extends Sympathies to Tofino Rescuers

Marven Robinson, involved in 2006 ferry disaster effort, said first responders just did 'what mariners do.'

Katie Hyslop 26 Oct 2015TheTyee.ca

Katie Hyslop reports for The Tyee. Follow her on Twitter @kehyslop, and find her previous Tyee stories here.

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Hartley Bay's Marven Robinson: 'When you hear of an accident that happens, no questions asked, people just run right away.'

When he heard the reports of a tour boat sinking just off Tofino, B.C. yesterday, Marven Robinson was taken back to his own experience helping to rescue passengers of the Queen of the North ferry that ran aground near his home in Hartley Bay nine years ago.

Five British tourists are dead and one is still missing after a whale watching boat carrying 27 passengers capsized about 15 kilometres northwest of Tofino on Sunday afternoon.

Like the people of Hartley Bay, members of the Ahousaht First Nation were among the first on the scene to help in the rescue effort, along with first responders and local fishermen. Of the 21 rescued, 18 were taken to hospital, and as of Monday afternoon all but four passengers were released.

"I'd just like to put my hand out and say thank you to the Ahousaht and people of Tofino from Gitga'at First Nation, for coming out and doing what mariners do and helping each other when they need to," said Robinson, a member of the Gitga'at Nation.

Robinson was one of the first people in Hartley Bay to respond to the Queen of the North's mayday call in the early morning hours of March 22, 2006.

Then, about 20 people from the Gitga'at First Nation jumped in their boats and arrived at the ferry within minutes of the first call, spending hours bringing survivors back to Hartley Bay for blankets, clothing, food, and comfort, and even longer cleaning up the debris and spilled diesel fuel in the water.

It wasn't until the next morning that rescuers realized two of the 101 passengers and crew aboard the ferry were missing. The bodies of Shirley Rosette and Gerald Foisy of 100 Mile House were never found and presumed drowned.

'It's just second nature'

Robinson acknowledged his experience was different from that of the Tofino rescuers, who are now coping with the death of five passengers and the disappearance of one other.

"All you can wish is that you were trying your hardest," Robinson said, reflecting on his 2006 experience, "and to find out there were a few fatalities…it's a way different outcome."

Robinson said he's heard reports that the Ahousaht First Nation will hold a debriefing session to help rescuers deal with the tragedy. He said he thinks it's a great idea, and something Hartley Bay's residents could have used nine years ago.

"People need to talk about what they tried to do, what worked and what didn't work, just to get it off their mind, that they did do what they could," Robinson said.

He said he isn't surprised that Ahousaht and his own Gitga'at Nation were among the first on the scene of these ocean disasters.

"It's just in our nature. We live on the water 24 hours a day, so we have vessels ready,” said Robinson. “It's just second nature; when you hear of an accident that happens, no questions asked, people just run right away."

No one from the Gitga'at Nation has made an official call to Ahousaht just yet. But Robinson said as soon as things settle down, his nation will reach out to the Ahousaht council to offer their thanks and support for the rescue effort.  [Tyee]

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