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Two sailors rescued off B.C. coast

July 23, 2012 – Two sailors owe their lives to search and rescue swimmer Robin Richardson, who plunged twice into heavy seas off Haida Gwaii on Monday to pluck the men off their stricken sailboat.

Richardson, a sergeant with the RCAF, hoisted the men aboard a Cormorant helicopter to bring them to safety in Port Hardy.

Photo Credit – The Province

"The pilots, technicians and flight engineer did an amazing job," Richardson, 35, said Tuesday.

Safe in hospital are B.C. residents Glen Hampton, in his 50s, and Doug Munroe, 69.

The two had been aboard their 15-metre sailboat Magnolia, drifting for 24 hours without power and rudder in four-metre swells and howling winds.

The Magnolia is still adrift. Richardson said the men, who made a call for help about 8 p.m. on Monday, looked exhausted when the chopper's crew finally sighted them through the twilight. | READ MORE