An accident aboard a fishing vessel just outside of Lax Kw'alaams on June 25 has cost a fisherman his life.
Fellow fishermen noticed a fishing vessel traveling in circles off the coast of the community shortly after 10 p.m. and, after boarding the vessel, discovered the man entangled in a gill net. The man was removed from the vessel and transported to the Health Centre in Lax Kw'alaams where he was pronounced dead.
“Currently the investigation has been handed over to Coroner’s Office of British Columbia. Transport Canada and the Workers Compensation Board were also notified and attended the scene. At this stage we are confident in advising the community that this matter is not suspicious in nature,” said Const. Matt Ericson of the Prince Rupert RCMP.
WorkSafeBC was informed of the accident by Prince Rupert RCMP, and sent a serious and fatal incident investigator to follow up on the matter.
“It appears to have happened in the course of the worker's job, so we are investigating,” said Johnston.
“We're going to be looking at all of the factors ... were there issues with the equipment? Were there issues with the conditions at the time of the accident? Were there issues with training for the employee?”
The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the man’s identity as 56-year-old Abbotsford resident Albert Arthur Armstrong.