Provincial posted May 16, 2025 @ 08:45am by Megan Trudeau

BC lighthouse keeper dies while on duty, investigation underway

The Canadian Coast Guard said in a statement to NowMedia that on April 2, 2025, a lightkeeper at the Triple Island light station west of Prince Rupert died while on duty.

The lightkeeper did not respond to multiple efforts by the coast guard to contact them. A helicopter that was working nearby at the time was deployed to conduct a wellness check, upon which the lightkeeper was found unresponsive.

The pilot called 911, but the lightkeeper was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency services arrived.

Lighthouses in BC are usually staffed by two people — a principle lightkeeper and an assistant. The coast guard said Triple Island had both, but only one was on site at the time because there was a shift change.

RCMP and two members from the coast guard’s Prince Rupert station travelled to the island to oversee the situation.

Employment and Social Development Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard are actively investigating.

Coast Guard officials say the RCMP were involved earlier and have completed their own investigation.

“The Canadian Coast Guard expresses sincere condolences to the individual’s family, friends and fellow CCG employees,” the coast guard said. “We will continue to support our employees, as well as the family, during this very difficult time.

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