A medical emergency aboard a BC Ferries vessel Saturday afternoon led to a delay in the 1 p.m. sailing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen after six individuals became ill while in a stairwell.
Paramedics and the RCMP responded to the incident and boarded the vessel to provide assistance. Two individuals were transported to hospital for further treatment, while the remaining four received medical care onboard.
The ferry had not yet left the dock when the incident occurred.
Initial reports from passengers referenced announcements about multiple casualties heard on the PA system, but BC Ferries has since clarified that all passengers are accounted for and confirmed there were no fatalities.
“In terms of what may have been heard over the PA system, we’ll check in with the captain, but I can confirm the vessel was cleared, cleaned, and has since resumed service,” a BC Ferries spokesperson stated.
The exact cause of the medical incident has not been confirmed. While some passengers speculated that it may have been due to an overdose, authorities have not verified this.
“The Swartz Bay (Victoria) – Tsawwassen (Vancouver) vessel is currently holding in dock due to a medical emergency. The 1:00 pm sailing from Swartz Bay will be delayed as a result,” BC Ferries posted on X.
#ServiceNotice The #SwartzBay – #Tsawwassen vessel is currently holding in dock due to a medical emergency. The 1:00 pm sailing from #SwartzBay will be delayed as a result.
Notice: https://t.co/jnQZ4PIV2Z ^ha
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) March 22, 2025
The sailing eventually departed later in the afternoon once the scene was deemed safe and cleared by emergency responders.
