Ahousaht Chief Councillor Greg Louie said he is relieved to hear that the body of the young Australian tourist Raveshan Morgan Pillay has been recovered at Vargas Island near Tofino. He said he’s sure the family will now be at peace knowing that their son, brother and boyfriend will be returning home.
Pillay was with a group of tourists on the whale-watching vessel Leviathan II when it went down at Plover Ridge Oct. 25. Five of the boat's 27 occupants were confirmed deceased as a result of the incident. Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht fishermen were able to rescue the 21 others from the cold waters that day.
Despite extensive search efforts over the following days, Pillay’s body remained missing until yesterday. In the early evening of Nov. 18, surfers reported finding a body on the beach of Vargas Island, read the Coroner’s Service statement.
Louie said it will be with a sense of relief for the Ahousaht members to hear the news, especially the searchers, who did their best to find the man’s body. “It will uplift them emotionally now that Rav’s body has been found.”
Louie wanted to send a thank you out to the public for all the kind words and positive messages that Ahousaht has received since news of the Leviathan II rescue. There have been many messages of gratitude, even donations sent to the community.
He also sends his gratitude to the Coast Guard, the RCMP, the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation and Tofino for their efforts over these past weeks.
Pillay was an Australian citizen. The other five deceased - four men and a woman - were all British nationals.
The BC Coroners Service, Transportation Safety Board and RCMP continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the deaths of Pillay and the five others.
