A Tulalip Fire Department boat crew transports a wind surfer who had gone missing off Kayak Point, north of Everett, Wash., Nov. 19, 2017. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Evan Estep
SEATTLE — Coast Guard air and boat crews, as well as a Snohomish County Marine Unit and a Tulalip Fire Department boat crew, rescued two male wind surfers after they went missing near Kayak Point, north of Everett, Washington, Sunday.
The first surfer was located and hoisted by an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles and the second surfer was pulled from the water by the fire department boat crew.
Both surfers were reported in good condition and required no medical assistance.
Of the four wind surfers, the two who made it to shore contacted Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound around 2 p.m. to report they had lost sight of the other wind surfers approximately an hour prior to their call.
Sector watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast while the helicopter crew, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Seattle and a Snohomish County Marine Unit launched in response.
The helicopter crew located the first surfer and lowered their rescue swimmer, who safely hoisted the surfer onto the helicopter, then proceeded to search for the second surfer. The air crew located the second surfer clinging to a wind board and directed the fire department boat crew to the surfer’s location.
The helicopter then safely transported the first surfer to Paine Field, while the station crew escorted the fire department boat crew as they transported the second surfer to emergency medical service personnel waiting at Kayak Point, but no medical assistance was required.
One of the survivors reported that the heavy winds would not allow him to get back to shore and he became exhausted and unable to lift the sails.
There had been a gale warning in affect for the Puget Sound and Hood Canal area as of 9 a.m., weather conditions on scene reported as very rough with 3 to 4-foot seas and up to 45-MPH winds.
