Comox Valley kayaker rescued after hours stranded in water
Published 4:30 pm Monday, March 9, 2026
A Comox Valley kayaker is safe after spending upwards of nine and a half hours out in the waters off of the Comox Marina until being rescued in the early hours of March 9.
According to Roch Massicotte of the Comox Valley Marine Search and Rescue Society, the man ran into difficulties while paddling between Royston and Comox.
“His kayak apparently broke apart, he’s been stranded on the markers, he’s been stranded on the markers since 5 p.m.,” Massicotte said.
The paddler was reached shortly before 3 a.m. in a rescue that included two vessels and eight members of the Royal Canadian Search and Rescue along with assistance from the RCMP and Courtenay and Comox Fire Department members who set up large lights to illuminate the area.
Searchers were called to the area after homeowners reported hearing someone yell for help out on the water. One of those 911 callers was a Royston resident who gave her first name as Angie.
“I was awake and I thought I could hear something through the window so I opened it and then could hear the repeated yelling and at first I couldn’t tell whether it was a dog howling or what and then I was like no that definitely sounds like a man so I called 911 and they said yea we’re looking for someone in the water” she said.
Searchers could also hear the man calling for assistance once they got out onto the water.
“We have an open rib with binoculars with night vision that appears infrared and we could see on top of the dolphin (nautical structure) and the open boat was able to hear him and go directly to the dolphin” Massicotte says.
The paddler was cold but appeared to be in good spirits as he walked with volunteers from the rescue boat towards an awaiting ambulance that transported him to hospital.
“It’s hard to sleep when you can hear somebody through your window yelling for help. I’ve lived in small communities up north and I just know when people get in trouble on the water and in the environment it can be disastrous if you don’t get help. I’m so glad they found him” Angie says.
