Heroic Rescue: Passenger Retrieved After Falling Overboard from Spirit of Vancouver Island Ferry

On September 3rd, 2025, a passenger fell overboard from the Spirit of Vancouver Island ferry shortly after it departed from Tsawwassen Terminal around 1:00 p.m. The crew enacted emergency protocols immediately, suspending the vessel’s journey and coordinating with the nearby Queen of New Westminster to aid in the recovery process.

Thanks to the swift actions of the ferry’s crew, the individual was promptly rescued and brought back to the dock at Tsawwassen, where paramedics were ready to provide medical assistance before transporting the passenger to a hospital. The passenger’s condition was later reported as stable.

Witnesses aboard the ferry described the moment the emergency was announced, which included a distinctive three-tone alert followed by a recorded message indicating a man-overboard situation. Initially perceived as a drill, passengers quickly realized the seriousness of the matter as crew members moved urgently to slow the ferry and prepare for the response, all occurring within minutes.

BC Ferries acknowledged the incident’s potential emotional impact on those onboard and expressed gratitude to both the passengers for their calmness and to the crew and emergency responders for their professionalism. The situation resulted in an approximately one-hour delay for the route between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay.

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