Port Angeles Coast Guard crew rescues stranded boaters from B.C. beach

Published 1:30 am Monday, April 29, 2019

PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles Coast Guard crew rescued two stranded boaters from a beach near Tsusiat Falls, B.C., on Sunday, U.S. Coast Guard District 13 Pacific Northwest officials said.

The frigid boaters, whose names were not provided by authorities, issued a mayday call from Canadian waters at 2:20 p.m. Sunday.

The boaters reportedly were taking on water in surf conditions and were able to make it safely to shore.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound coordinated a response through the Royal Canadian Command Centre.

An MH-65 Dolphin aircrew from Sector Field Office Port Angeles was the closest asset that was able to conduct the rescue, Coast Guard officials said.

The aircrew from Port Angeles arrived on scene at 3:13 p.m. and hoisted two men who were suffering symptoms related to hypothermia, according to a Coast Guard news release.

The men were transferred to a Royal Canadian helicopter aircrew in Neah Bay and were flown to a hospital in Canada.

Tsusiat Falls is in a remote area on the outer coast of Vancouver Island northwest of Neah Bay.

U.S. Coast Guard District 13 covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.