Search continues for BC man thrown overboard in boating accident

Boats and aircraft are out looking for a missing man, Ryan Mazar, who was involved in a boating accident yesterday evening off Vancouver Island.

West Shore RCMP said that at about 6:15 pm, they responded to a report of an unoccupied boat in the ocean at Finlayson Arm.

Witnesses could see the boat from the shore near the 200 block of the Trans Canada Highway.

Officers on scene saw the 20-foot boat in the water driving in circles, and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria (JRCC) was contacted and deployed.

Police said an extensive search for the occupants was done last night, and continues this morning.

Two occupants of the boat, a mother and infant, have been located on shore and were taken to hospital for treatment. It was determined there were three occupants on the boat who were thrown over board.

Mazar, age 43, has been declared missing. He is described at a caucasian man with brown eyes and short grey hair in a mohawk hairstyle. He is about 230 lbs, and is 6’2’’ - 6’5’’ with a large tattoo on his left bicep and forearm of nautical designs. He also has a tattoo of Vancouver Island on his right arm.

The public is being warned that a large presence of search and rescue officials will be out today, including aircraft patrols.

If you have any information that could assist in the search for Ryan Mazar please call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264.