Leviathan II whale-watching survivors plan special thank you for Ahousaht rescuers

A Calgary couple who survived the whale-watching boat capsize off Tofino, B.C., last month say they've found the perfect way to thank the people of nearby Ahousaht, who rushed to the scene and pulled them from the frigid waters.

Dwayne Mazereeuw and his wife were among 21 people on board the Leviathan II who were rescued. Five British nationals and a man from Australia died in the accident.

Fishermen from the Ahousaht First Nation are credited with spotting the only flare the crew of the boat was able to deploy.

Water taxis and fishing boats from Ahousaht and Tofino rushed to the scene and managed to save the majority of the passengers.

"In the weeks since the accident, we've been really trying to figure out how to even begin thanking these people for what they have done for us," he said. "How do you ever thank someone for saving your life?"

But now Mazereeuw has discovered there is a fundraising campaign to build a skateboard park for children in the isolated community. In a lucky coincidence, Mazereeuw happens to work for a company called New Line Skateparks.

"We just couldn't believe it when we read that article, just how fitting and perfect it was for us," he said.

The couple plan to make a financial donation and assist with the planning and construction for the park.

Without the quick action of people from Ahousaht after the emergency flare was spotted, Masereeuw said, he and his wife might not have survived.

Clung to live-saving ring

The whale-watching trip seemed to be proceeding as planned, Masereeuw said, until suddenly everyone was in the water.

"I remember looking over at the right-hand side of the boat and seeing a fairly large wave coming. I didn't really think too much of it," he said.

But seconds later, the wave capsized the vessel.

"People were literally flying over my head into the water and in a split second I was in the water myself," he said.

Mazereeuw said he and his wife were separated when they went into the water, but managed to swim to a flotation ring and hold onto it with several other people.

The group could see a life-raft that the crew of the Leviathan II deployed, but could not swim to it because the water was too rough, he said.

After what he believes to be close to an hour in the water, a water taxi from Ahousaht managed to pull everyone clinging to the life-ring on board.

"The hypothermia was definitely consuming us, and these people that rescued us clearly had to drag us out of the water. We didn't have the energy or anything to get up and onto the boat," Mazereeuw said.

Once they were back in Tofino, Mazereeuw said, they were taken to the home of a paramedic to warm up.

At the time, they did not know who exactly came to their rescue, but using media reports, they pieced it together and managed to reach their rescuers in Ahousaht by phone just the other night.

Mazereeuw said he plans to travel to Ahousaht in the spring to help with the construction of the skate park for children in the community.

"It's going to be a tough trip, that's for sure. It's going to be pretty emotional," he said.