Search and rescue officials are looking for a diver who failed to resurface in the Winchelsea Islands area off Lantzville on Friday, Aug. 13 (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

search effort

Search underway for missing diver off Winchelsea Islands

Aug 13, 2021 | 3:12 PM

NANAIMO — A diver vanished in the waters off Lantzville, leading to an extensive search effort.

Nanaimo RCMP reported a man failed to resurface to a boat off the shores of the Winchelsea Islands at about 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13.

Cst. Gary O’Brien said an official emergency response wasn’t launched until two hours later due to a language barrier.

“When the diver didn’t resurface an individual on the boat called a friend on shore who he thought had better English.”

O’Brien said the diver had a quality wet suit and tank on with a survivor rate of 36 hours. ,

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Numerous military and volunteer search and rescue resources in the air and on the water are on scene looking for the man.

He’s in his 40’s of south Asian descent, who speaks little English.

It’s unknown where the man is from, O’Brien said.

Searches are also being conducted on the shoreline.

“We do have an RCMP member from a member attending the scene who’s fluent in Mandarin. He’ll be liasing with the affected parties and our primary investigators.”

More information will be released as it becomes available.

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