Coast Guard rescues man, 2 dogs from vessel that lost power in BC
Dec 29, 2022, 12:00 PM | Updated: 1:49 pm
“AET3 Austen Marshall and AST1 Lucas Wengrin did a phenomenal job effecting a challenging rescue in the heavy surf, as the sailing vessel smashed against the rocks,” said Lt. John Schultz, a pilot at Air Station Port Angeles. (Photo from US Coast Guard)
(Photo from US Coast Guard)
One person and two dogs are now safe after the U.S. Coast Guard rescued them from a sailing vessel that lost power and was battered by large waves Wednesday near Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle received a report early Wednesday morning of a sailing vessel with one person and multiple dogs that were grounded after losing power.
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The vessel was hit by large waves about three miles west of the Jordan River.
“Very large breaking waves on this vessel that had run aground on Vancouver Island and they had to assess the best way to get the individual off and the dogs off,” a Coast Guardsman assessing the scene told KIRO Newsradio.
The crew immediately launched a rescue mission, and an aircrew from Coast Guard Station Port Angeles arrived on the scene shortly after 1 a.m.
They hoisted the survivor and one dog and transported them to awaiting emergency medical services at the Canadian Coast Guard Station in Victoria, British Columbia.
“They were able to pull the person up, but one of the dogs had scampered away, and the other was still near the vessel,” the Coast Guardsmen said.
The aircrew returned to the scene about 10 hours later to assess the damage and spotted a second dog in the wreckage.
“They went over there and found the other dog that was missing actually sheltering in a nearby cove near the wreckage,” the Coast Guardsman continued.
A rescue swimmer recovered the dog, which was brought to the Canadian Coast Guard station, where it was reunited with its owner.
“AET3 Austen Marshall and AST1 Lucas Wengrin did a phenomenal job effecting a challenging rescue in the heavy surf, as the sailing vessel smashed against the rocks,” said Lt. John Schultz, a pilot at Air Station Port Angeles. “Their patience and technical expertise in a highly dynamic environment directly lead to the safe recovery of the mariner and his two dogs. We are thankful for the happy outcome!”
KIRO Newsradio’s Sam Campbell contributed to this report
