HMCS Winnipeg Sailor Presumed Missing After Fallen Overboard

Master Sailor Duane Earle was on a training mission in California at the time of the incident.

Master Sailor Duane Earle, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) went missing on Monday, December 14, 2020, while deployed in Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Winnipeg.

The details are still being determined, but it is believed he accidently fell overboard very early on December 14, while the ship was approximately 500 nautical miles west of San Francisco, California, en route back to Esquimalt after being deployed to the Asia-Pacific region on Operations PROJECTION and NEON.

MS Earle was not identified as missing until later in the day, at which point HMCS Winnipeg turned back along its route and commenced a search, along with its embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter. The search effort is being coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Alameda County, California and includes Royal Canadian Air Force and United States Coast Guard assets.

“We are dedicating all available resources to search for Master Sailor Duane Earle in hopes of bringing him home. During these difficult times, I keep his family and friends in my thoughts. Each and every day, Canadian Armed Forces members across the country put service to Canada ahead of thoughts of their own safety. The entire Defence Team will be there for his family during these challenging times.”

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones of our missing shipmate, Master Sailor Duane Earle. With this happening so close to the end of this deployment and with the Holiday Season looming, it’s simply devastating and is felt across our extended naval family.”

Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander, Royal Canadian Navy

MS Earle’s next of kin have been notified and the CAF is providing his family with the support needed to help them through this difficult time.

The CAF will conduct an investigation into the circumstances of how the member went missing.

More details will be released in the near future.

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