Johnny Depp meets Vancouver patients dressed as Capt. Jack Sparrow

Hollywood actor Johnny Depp sailed into B.C. Children's Hospital on Monday, delighting patients who met him dressed as one of his iconic characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. 

Depp is in Vancouver for the filming of Richard Says Goodbye, but he stepped back into character as the swashbuckling pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow.

He charmed and sparred with his "first mates". He met with patients in the oncology, general pediatrics and neurology wards. 

The hospital posted on Instagram that Depp "has a heart of gold" and spent more than five hours meeting one-on-one with every patient, from newborns to teens.

"Meeting Captain Jack was a dream come true for my daughter," said Sarah Kertcher, a mother of a seven-year-old, in a news release.

"He never broke character once and was so generous with his time. He was truly here for the kids, and it brought tears to my eyes to see how special he made each one feel."