Indigenous leader grateful to survive after finding herself 'hanging upside down' in flipped floatplane

A Cessna A185F floatplane with four passengers flipped in the water near the Tofino shore on Monday, forcing people to scramble out on a sandbar.

Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council president Judith Sayers, who was a passenger on the plane,says she's sore but "grateful" to be alive after a trip out of Tofino went wrong.

Sayers said that she was sitting beside the pilot up front and noticed the plane began rocking and tilting from side to side as the aircraftaccelerated for takeoff.

"The next thing I know I'm there hanging upside down in the plane and my face is in the water," said Sayers, who then described how she had to struggle several times to lift her head out of the salt water to get air to breathe.

"I did that a couple of times and then I couldn't do it anymore. I guess water was coming in? I couldn't breathe anymore and I felt hands under my head lifting my head out of the water."

Those were the hands of her31-year-old son.

"He saved my life," said Sayers of Port Alberni.

Cole Sayers is aHupacasath First Nations man who heads the B.C. Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative.

Watch | Watercraft respond to flipped floatplane:

Video shows flipped float plane near Tofino shore

3 years ago

Duration 0:38

The Cessna A185F was carrying four passengers when it flipped during takeoff.

He, his mother and two other peoplewere flying from Tofino toHesquiaht to assess an idea fora clean energy project. She says the floatplane seemed to take a long time taxiing out fortake off hitting wavesand rockingback and forth. Sayers expected the pilot to gain control but described the shock when instead the plane suddenly flipped.

"I didn't think that would happen.I have no clue I just really don't know what caused it."

Sayers says her son undid her seatbelt and somebody helped her get out of the plane's small window and she sat on the wingfeeling dizzy and disoriented until the coast guard came in Zodiacs to help rescue the passengers.

She posted online how "precious" life is after the harrowing experience that drew help from boaters, passersby and what she described as impressive emergency services workers.

Sayers says her ribs are sore and she had an egg-like bump from a contusion on her right leg. Her son has a sore back, neck and hishand was cut, she suspects from glass from the windshield that shattered in the crash. She believes the pilot injured his head.

Atleo River Air Services base manager Misty Lawson confirmed to CBC that the Cessna was taking off near the shore around 11:40 a.m. when it flipped after she said it hit a large boat wake. Lawson said thatthe plane became airborne prematurely and tipped over on its nose. The aircraft was damaged.

All five people on board the small plane were checked out or treated at hospitalbut escaped with minor injuries.

Lawson said thepilot was experienced.

The incident is being investigated by the federal Transportation Safety Board.

"I'm sore ... but was just so happy to watch a beautiful sunset last night, " Sayers told Stephen Quinn ofCBC'sThe Early Edition Tuesday morning, expressing thanks to all those who helped the passengers and pilotescape.