Canadian Coast Guard Team of the Year: Capt. Bruce Briggs, Coxswain Shon Wirth, Rescue Specialist Dan Collier, Rescue Specialist Jeff Knaupp, First Officer Tom Moxey, Rescue Specialist Dave Sarznick, Rescue Specialist James Mole, Unit Leader Brian Hobbs, Coxswain Travis Robertson, Crewman Eric Symons, Crewman Andrew Kvyatkovski.
Late in the night on Aug. 13, 2011, a pleasure craft with five people onboard lost its way in one of the darkest reaches of the north shores of the river. Travelling at high speed, the boat careened off a log boom catapulting three of its sleeping passengers amongst the twisted logs.
The boat's momentum carried it further downstream where it rammed into yet another log boom with two victims still inside. All five individuals sustained serious trauma ranging from bone fractures to spinal injury.
A conscious victim was able to raise the alarm that they were badly injured "somewhere" in the North Arm of the Fraser River.
Regular Coast Guard crews and Richmond volunteers launched from their base and joined forces on the dark and fast flowing river.
Working together, these survivors were located and transported to waiting BCAS and fire crews ashore. The group's efforts and decisions contributed to the saving of five lives and demonstrated a high level of professionalism under challenging conditions in the process.
