Coast Guard, partner agencies rescue surfer near Crescent City

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-

Coast Guard rescues overdue kayaker near Albion Point

Photos by Chief Petty Officer Brandyn Hill

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — The Coast Guard rescued a kayaker who was stranded during a fishing trip after his kayak began taking on water through a hole in the hull on the Albion River, Sunday.

The kayaker's wife called Coast Guard Station Noyo River watchstanders around sunset, reporting her husband, who was supposed to return before dark, was missing.

A Coast Guard Station Noyo River 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew and a Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew responded, along with an Albion Fire Department ground party.

Albion Fire Department personnel found the man stranded on a rock on the south side of Albion Point and vectored the Coast Guard rescue helicopter to the scene. A rescue swimmer deployed and hoisted the man into the helicopter around 12:30 a.m., Monday. The Dolphin crew transferred him to Albion Fire Department responders with no reported medical concerns.

"By having a plan with his wife - letting her know where he was going and when he should have been back - the kayaker allowed our crews to respond quickly and let them know where to look," said Lt. Matt Fetzner, the Sector Humboldt Bay aviation operations division chief. "Having a dry suit and life jacket on allowed him to get to shore until help arrived. This is a great example of being prepared."

The man reunited with his wife at the campground, and responders were unable to retrieve his kayak.

-USCG-

Coast Guard assists fishermen near Humboldt Bay

Images: Petty Officer 2nd Class Cory Mendenhall, U.S. Coast Guard District 11

A Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew tows the 45-foot commercial fishing vessel Miss Jessie near Humboldt Bay, April 30, 2018. The crew of the Miss Jessie contacted Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders reporting their fishing vessel had lost steering near Table Bluff in 8-foot seas. Watchstanders launched a MH-65D helicopter crew from Sector Humboldt Bay and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew. The helicopter arrived on scene and monitored the Miss Jessie until the boat crew arrived on scene for the tow.

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — The Coast Guard assisted four Dungeness crab fishermen aboard a 45-foot commercial fishing vessel a half-mile west of Table Bluff, Monday evening. 

The Miss Jessie crew contacted Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 around 5:30 p.m., reporting their fishing vessel had lost steering in 10-foot seas and 30-mph winds just outside the breaking surf.

Watchstanders launched crews aboard a Sector Humboldt Bay MH-65D helicopter and a Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay 47-foot Motor Lifeboat. The helicopter arrived on scene and monitored the Miss Jessie until the boat crew reached the fishing vessel.

The boat crew towed the Miss Jessie across the bar to Woodley Island Marina, where they moored up around 9 p.m. Monday.

The Miss Jessie crew did not report any injuries. 

-USCG-