Five lives were saved in a dramatic rescue 20 nautical miles west of the Umpqua River near Winchester Bay. USCG Sector North Bend received a radio distress call around 9:00 pm Monday from the Fishing Vessel Desire based out of Neah Bay, Washington. The Captain indicated the vessel was taking on water and they were preparing to abandon ship. USCG Petty Officer Michael Clark says the crew conducted textbook readiness including excellent communications, dawning survival gear, activating the Emergency Beacon, and getting in the life raft.
Coast Guard responded with two Helicopters out of North Bend and Astoria and two 47-foot lifeboats. They also issued emergency marine information to potential vessels in the area. The five crew were located and lifted by rescue swimmers to safety aboard the helicopters. They were transported to North Bend Airport and turned over to awaiting medical personnel. No serious injuries were reported. P.O. Clark says the boat was last seen capsized, nose up, barely above water. The coast guard presumes it sank and has not issued a hazard warning to nearby vessels.
(Photo Credit: US Coast Guard Sector North Bend Facebook Page)