Nanaimo Woman In Hospital, Man Is Missing & Presumed Drowned

A 58-year-old woman is in hospital and a 59-year-old man is missing and presumed drowned after witnesses called police about an argument on a sailboat near Nanaimo.

A 58-year-old woman is in hospital and a 59-year-old man is missing and presumed drowned after witnesses called police about an argument on a sailboat near Nanaimo.

Mounties were called Monday night after the couple were heard arguing aboard the vessel anchored between Newcastle Island and Protection Island.

A Comorant rescue helicopter and a coast guard hovercraft were dispatched by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria after a vessel operator reported a person yelling for help from the water.

Mounties responded aboard a Nanaimo Port Authority vessel and found the woman adrift in the harbour clutching a rope near the boat.

Nanaimo RCMP Constable Gary O'Brien said the woman was getting ready to go under, adding that she appeared to be suffering from hypothermia and severe intoxication.

The woman, who lived on the sailboat with the man, was "clinging to life" when she was rushed to hospital, O'Brien said. Her condition was upgraded to stable on Tuesday.

The 59-year-old man is still missing after an exhaustive search of the water and shoreline, including unsuccessful attempts to ping his cellphone.

Police have not launched a criminal investigation into the matter.