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Community Comes Together to Help A Man in Distress

Sunshine Coast

2025-06-09 11:52 PDT

File # 2025-4083

On June 8, 2025, at approximately 6:56 p.m., Sunshine Coast RCMP responded to a report of a man experiencing a mental health crisis, walking into the ocean near the 4600 block of Sunshine Coast Highway. Witnesses reported the man yelling and treading water as he moved further from shore.

Police quickly activated Search and Rescue, notified the Coast Guard who issued a mayday call and reached out to the community for assistance. Officers deployed the Sunshine Coast RCMP police boat to aid in the response while community members stepped in to help, one launching a kayak to monitor the man and another offering his power boat to transport police to the male while the RCMP boat was enroute.

After nearly 50 minutes in the water, the man was located near White Islets. Initially cooperative, he later became combative and tried to re-enter the water. Officers from the police boat and the assisting kayaker helped safely restrain and remove the man from the good Samaritan's vessel.

He was brought back to shore, transferred to BC Emergency Health Services, and taken to hospital for observation.

Without the quick action of civilians and police, endangering their own safety for someone in distress, the results could have been tragic

The Sunshine Coast RCMP are grateful to all those who stepped up without hesitation to help.

 

Released by:

Cpl. Philip Atoui
Media Relations Officer
Sunshine Coast RCMP
5800 Teredo St. Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0
Office: 604-885-2266
Cell: 604-741-4315

Email: sunshinecoast_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/sunshinecoast (English only)

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