Two men, one winch, much luck, save paraplegic from sinking ultralight

By The Canadian Press

QUALICUM BEACH, B.C. – A paraplegic man is okay after being pulled unconscious, but alive, from the wreckage of a submerged ultralight airplane.

Two B.C. oyster fishermen are credited for the split-second rescue after watching the small plane crash into the waters of Deep Bay, north of Qualicum Beach, on Vancouver Island.

Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman says the pair used their small boat, which is equipped with a crane for lifting oyster lines, to winch the submerged ultralight to the surface, pulling the unconscious man to safety.

Foreman says the victim was treated at the scene by paramedics but, once revived, had no apparent injuries and was not sent to hospital.

The ultralight pilot, a Prince George man, was able to free himself from the sinking wreckage and was also unhurt.

The crash occurred Friday afternoon but Foreman says details are just coming to light now, and he could not say why the small plane went down. (CKWV)

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