A few minutes after exchanging with a man on shore, the rowers heard a commotion. They looked up and saw the man pushing a large rock log directly above them, RCMP said.
A man is facing assault with a weapon charges after he rolled a large log off a rock and hit two kayakers.
The kayakers were paddling close to shore off Jesse Island at the entrance to Departure Bay in Nanaimo when they were struck by a log that was about 20 feet long and eight inches in diameter.
RCMP said a 43-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman were paddling off the island last Saturday night, exploring some rock features, when a man appeared some distance above them. The paddlers told police they had a brief conversation with the man and continued paddling.
A few minutes later the rowers heard a commotion. They looked up to see the man pushing a large log of rock directly above them.
The log hit the woman in the back with enough force to throw her out of the kayak and into the ocean. The drifter also hit her companion, who managed to stay upright in his kayak and helped his friend ashore.
Several witnesses called the police to report the incident.
RCMP, assisted by a Nanaimo Port Authority vessel, arrived a short time later and arrested a 37-year-old man.
He was later released from custody on a promise to appear in Nanaimo Provincial Court on November 9.
“It was a freak accident and given the size and weight of the log and the distance it fell, the log could have caused serious injury to both of them,” said Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
The investigation continues.
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