Coast Guard Saves 2 Sailors

McKinleyville, Calif. - A Coast Guard HH-65C helicopter hoisted two people from the water approximately forty miles west-southwest of Shelter Cove, CA.

Coast Guard Group Humboldt Bay was notified of a 406MHz Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) alert from the 38 foot sailing vessel Passing Wind II at approximately 10:15 a.m.. A HH-65C helicopter piloted by LTjg Kevin Winters and LTjg Russ Merrick was launched from Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay and a C-130 fixed wing aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento to locate the EPIRB. At approximately 12:30 p.m, the helicopter located the EPIRB and commenced its search. At approximately 1:20 p.m, the helicopter located the Passing Wind II which had lost its mast and was foundering in seas estimated to be 10 - 12 feet. Both passengers of the Passing Wind II had abandoned their vessel and jumped into the water. Coast Guard rescue swimmer AST3 Nick Staley was deployed and recovered the two persons in the water. Both survivors and the rescue swimmer were hoisted by AMT2 Kate Wakefield and taken by helicopter to Point Arena. The helicopter was met by Coast Guard Auxiliarists and an ambulance where both survivors were evaluated for hypothermia.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Coast
• Guard
• Humboldt
• Bay
• Hoist
• Rescue
• water
• man
• swimmer
• helicopter
• save
• hospital
• crews
• boat
• sailing
• vessel

[Rm1000YrsWide]

Another amazing rescue video! You don't think about it often, but truly the Coast Guard is everywhere along our coasts, performing countless honorable duties -- saving lives, rescuing ships, protecting the environment, drug interdictions -- and without them a lot of things would fall apart. God bless the United States Coast Guard!

[chcwtf]

This is one of the most impressive videos of a helo water rescue I have seen. Although we would do things differently down under (not neccessarily better)with this type of operation - the "conning" by the hoist operator was VERY PROFESSIONAL - Can we borrow her?

[Brownton4]

Look we even save soliders from a branch that disrespects us the most.

[jbkimble28]

Look how long this video is! LOOK HOW MUCH THEY GOT DONE! at the beginning of the video you hear the pilot say they have 12min left on scene. they got all 3 people back in the chopper in 7!!!!

[mindylinky]

good luck

[gbh05210]

haha this swimmer loves his job, hear him yelling? gonna be me in a year and a half.

[pepsibookcat]

Absolutely brilliant.  Great job, y'all!

[Bionicpix]

9 minutes to BINGO fuel. Wow. Kinda hairy operation there. Bravo!

[mindylinky]

good job to him

[prettyantonio]

great job!!!!

[2late2soon]

agreed.