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| MH-65D Dolphin, ©USCG |
CRESCENT CITY, Calif. — The Coast Guard and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife rescued a surfer who was swept out to sea near Crescent City, Saturday.
The surfer's sister called the Del Norte County Sheriff's Office, who then transferred the call to Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders, at approximately 2:45 p.m., stating that she was watching her sister surf near South Beach in Crescent City when she lost sight of her.
Sector Humboldt Bay issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a Sector Humboldt Bay MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Del Norte County Sheriff's Office launched boat crews to the scene.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Bowman, a machinery technician assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Dorado in Crescent City, joined the California Department of Fish and Wildlife boat crew to search the area. The two agencies were conducting joint boardings in the area, Saturday.
Bowman and the wardens aboard the California Department of Fish and Wildlife boat located the surfer alive, brought her aboard the boat and took her to shore where emergency medical services personnel were waiting.
"Currents and riptides along the California coast can be dangerous," said Cmdr. Brendan Hilleary, Sector Humboldt Bay's operations officer. "It was very smart of this surfer to have a buddy on scene to watch her. This rescue was the result of seamless interagency cooperation. We're proud to work alongside such dedicated members of our partner agencies."
-USCG-