By The Canadian Press

UPDATE: TSB deploys team after fish boat sinks near Comox, one believed dead

Mar 7, 2017 | 7:51 AM

COMOX — The Transportation Safety Board is deploying a team to investigate a fish boat sinking off Comox that is believed to have claimed the life of one crew member.

Four crew members were rescued after the Prince Rupert-based herring seiner Miss Cory flipped over and sank Monday evening in the northern end of Georgia Strait.

Officials with the rescue co-ordination centre say a fifth crew member was in the engine room.

It’s believed that person was trapped inside the nearly 18-metre seiner as it went down in 260 metres of water.

The Canadian Press

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EARLIER:

One person is missing and presumed drowned in the sinking of a herring seiner in northern Georgia Strait, just east of Comox.

The Victoria Joint Rescue Co-ordination says the Prince Rupert-based Miss Cory capsized and sank quickly late Monday afternoon.

Four people were rescued by a passing vessel but a fifth has not been found.

Greg Clark with the rescue co-ordination centre says the vessel sank to a depth that precluded a dive type of search effort. 

“A crew member had gone into the engine room just prior to the incident happening,” said Clark. “By all accounts it seems this crew member did not get out of that engine room.”  

It’s believed the person was trapped in the nearly 18-metre seiner as it went down in 250-350 metres of water.

There was a thorough search of the area but the matter has now been turned over to the RCMP.