BC Ferries denies involvement in passengers' illness incident

BC Ferries reported that they were not involved in a medical incident that affected six passengers on Saturday. This incident occurred just before a ferry was set to leave from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. Two of the sick passengers required hospitalization. The other four received medical attention on the ferry. BC Ferries spokesperson Sonia Lowe stated that B.C. Emergency Health Services should address the cause of the illness. She emphasized that the issue did not relate to the ferry's property, infrastructure, or operations. Emergency health paramedics and the RCMP responded to the situation. However, neither agency provided details on what caused the passengers to fall ill. The incident led to a 55-minute delay for the ferry as the stairwell needed to be cleaned before departure. BC Ferries praised the quick actions of the crew in assisting the sick passengers. They also thanked the BC Ambulance Service and the RCMP for their support once the vessel arrived at Swartz Bay.