One individual has tragically lost their life in a fishing incident near Westport on Newfoundland’s Baie Verte Peninsula. The town clerk of Westport, Christine Murphy, who also serves as the fire department secretary in the small community, recounted the events. A man, whose identity is currently undisclosed, was fishing for squid when his small boat overturned. He was a familiar face in the community.
Upon receiving news of the capsized boat not far from the shore, Murphy promptly made a 911 call around 10 to 10:30 a.m. She efficiently relayed information to the emergency services, leading to the dispatch of the RCMP and Canadian Coast Guard. Murphy and her husband swiftly equipped themselves with first aid supplies and rushed to the scene.
Upon arrival at the wharf, they found several fishermen in the water in their boats, actively searching. According to witnesses, the fisherman, who was not wearing a life jacket, was heading back to the wharf about a couple of hundred feet offshore when the tragic incident occurred.
The man’s brother was part of the search efforts even before the emergency responders arrived. Throughout the afternoon and into the evening, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted an active operation at the waterfront in Westport. By 7:15 p.m., the operation was concluded, with no further details provided by the RCMP at that time.
Reflecting on the day’s events, Murphy mentioned the shift from a rescue to a recovery operation as the day progressed. Baie Verte-Green Bay MHA Lin Paddock revealed that the fisherman’s boat was laden with squid, causing it to capsize near the wharf, and unfortunately, the man did not know how to swim.
Paddock expressed his condolences to the fisherman’s family and the community, emphasizing the importance of support during this challenging time. Meanwhile, Harbour Round, on the opposite side of the peninsula, had recently mourned the loss of two fish harvesters in a similar fishing tragedy.