U.S. Coast Guard rescues one person, two dogs

By Olympic Peninsula News Group • December 31, 2022 1:30 am
U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo / Petty Officer 3rd Class Austen Marshall, an avionics electrical technician and a flight mechanic at Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, sits near a dog his aircrew rescued from a grounded sailing vessel near Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The aircrew rescued one person and two dogs from the vessel.
U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo / Petty Officer 3rd Class Austen Marshall, an avionics electrical technician and a flight mechanic at Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, sits near a dog his aircrew rescued from a grounded sailing vessel near Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The aircrew rescued one person and two dogs from the vessel.

A Coast Guard crew from Air Station Port Angeles rescued one person and two dogs from a grounded sailing vessel offshore Vancouver Island.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle on Wednesday, Dec. 28, received a report of a sailing vessel with one person and multiple dogs aboard. The boat had lost power, was grounded and was being battered by large waves about 3 miles west of the Jordan River.

Watchstanders directed the launch of an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles to rescue the person.

The aircrew arrived on scene shortly after 1 a.m., hoisted the survivor and one dog and transported them to awaiting emergency medical services at the Canadian Coast Guard Station in Victoria, British Columbia.

Later Wednesday morning, the aircrew returned to the area to conduct an overflight to assess the wreckage for pollution issues and salvage potential.

The aircrew arrived on scene at about 11 a.m. During the course of that overflight, the crew spotted another canine within the wreckage.

The aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer, recovered the dog and transported it to the Canadian Coast Guard Station in Victoria.

“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 led to the safe recovery of the mariner and his two dogs. We are thankful for the happy outcome!”

This search and rescue mission was conducted in coordination with Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria.