A missing fisher has been found after a boat capsized off the coast of Halifax.
Emergency crews have been frantically searching for the man since Thursday night.
According to a post from NL Marine, he was found in a lift raft and his condition is not known.
He was one of four men onboard the Fortune Pride when it ran into trouble. The other three men were rescued earlier and were taken to hospital.
According to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), two men were conscious and the other was unresponsive.
Distress call around 10 p.m.
The distress call came in at about 10:06 p.m., which alerted first responders to the boat’s exact location.
A device known as an EPIRB emergency position-indicating radio beacon helped with a quick response.
The 60-foot fishing vessel, capsized about 23 kilometres south of Halifax.
JRCC’s Len Hickey told our newsroom early on Friday an Ovatek life raft was spotted in the water, and officials were trying to determine if the fourth fisherman was inside.
An Ovatek life raft is pictured here. (ovatek.com)
Ocean conditions were ‘unfavourable’
The water conditions near Sambro were “unfavourable” last night, with heavy snow and some rain and wind in Halifax. That made for low visibility and high swells.
Around 10 p.m. in Halifax, it was about -1 with light snow and low clouds and winds of about 39 km/h, according to a website that tracks past weather.
Fishing community reacts
News of the search is hitting the fishing community hard.
Dan Fleck of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association says it’s sent heartbreak across Atlantic Canada.
“These fishermen are all very well known. They have family, friends and colleagues across the Maritimes. We are standing by to offer aid and support, it’s a sad day for sure,” said Fleck.
Fleck says it’s a sad feeling on the wharf, and everyone is reminiscing about them.
He says the fishing community is tight knit and they will stand together.
