Radio station staff devastated by loss of co- worker, coast guard volunteer

SECHELT — Angie Nemeth — a woman known by coworkers to spread happiness — was one of two people killed during a coast guard auxiliary training exercise Sunday near Sechelt.

Nemeth, who worked at radio station CKAY, and another woman were killed when they were trapped under a search and rescue boat when it flipped in Skookumchuck Narrows, about 110 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.

Nemeth was an avid volunteer and will be greatly missed, said Bob Morris, general manager at CKAY.

The woman’s death is devastating, he said, not only for her co- workers, but for the small community.

“I think everybody’s in shock,” he said of the station’s small staff. “I’ve walked by Angie’s office on several occasions, prepared to say hello like we do every other morning and she’s just not there.”

Morris said Nemeth loved being out on the water and helping both her community and co- workers.

I’d never, ever seen Angie ( Nemeth) down. She was the type of person who would walk into a room and bring the room up.

BOB MORRIS GENERAL MANAGER, CKAY RADIO STATION

“I’d never, ever seen Angie down. She was the type of person who would walk into a room and bring the room up.

“If you were down, you’d just walk into Angie’s office and all of a sudden you’re happy again.”

Morris said Nemeth leaves behind two adult children.

Investigators with the Transportation Safety Board are trying to determine what caused the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue auxiliary boat to flip.

The boat overturned around noon Sunday, sending four people into the water. Two men were tossed clear and rescued by a nearby vessel while the two women were trapped under the boat.

Police haven’t released the name of the second victim.

Transportation Safety Board spokesman Chris Krepski said it’s too early to say what might have caused the boat to capsize, but investigators are looking into the vessel and sea conditions at the time of the accident.

Krepski said they’ll determine if a full marine investigation should be conducted.

The Skookumchuck Narrows is at the entrance to Sechelt Inlet and large rapids, whitecaps and whirlpools are common during tidal flow.

The name Skookumchuck means rapid torrent and only the most experienced boaters are warned away during high tides.