Coast Guard rescues two people from sinking fishing vessel 35 miles offshore

PUNTA GORDA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

09.06.2013

Story by Lt. Brian Ward 

U.S. Coast Guard District 11

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. – A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin from Sector Humboldt Bay rescued two people from a 47 ft fishing vessel taking on water 35 miles off the coast of Punta Gorda in northern California.

At 2:38 p.m. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay received a garbled Mayday call from the Crescent City fishing vessel “Kellan A” 35 miles west of Punta Gorda that was taking on water in 8-12 foot seas and 20 knot winds. Shortly after making the Mayday call, both crew members donned survival suits and evacuated to a life raft. Less than 30 minutes later, Sector Humboldt Bay had launched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from the Arcata Airport, as well as two 47-foot motor lifeboats from Station Humboldt Bay and Station Noyo River.

The helicopter arrived on scene by 3:30 p.m., having detected and homed on the two survivor’s 406 Mhz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) signal, which sends a signal with the vessel’s position to emergency services via satellite. The crew noted that the vessel was partially submerged and the two survivors were sheltered in a life raft. The helicopter entered a hover, deployed the rescue swimmer, and hoisted aboard the two survivors.

With the two survivors onboard, the helicopter returned to the Arcata airport where an ambulance from Mad River Hospital was waiting to provide medical treatment.

The helicopter aircrew was composed of aircraft commander Lt. Brian Ward (Springfield, Va.), co-pilot Lt. Taylor Andrews, flight mechanic Aviation Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Derek Hietala, and rescue swimmer Aviation Survival Technician 3rd Class Travis Peck.

• Date Taken: 09.06.2013
• Date Posted: 09.09.2013 23:00
• Story ID: 113363
• Location: PUNTA GORDA, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: SPRINGFIELD, VIRGINIA, US