Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin helicopter File Photo
SEATTLE — The Coast Guard rescued a man after his 38-foot pleasure craft sank in the vicinity of Smith Island near Whidbey Island, Friday.
An aircrew aboard a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, hoisted the man and transported him to Naval Station Whidbey Island where he was met by local emergency medical services for further transport to Whidbey Island General Hospital.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders were notified of the man in distress via the man’s wife and subsequently directed the launch of the helicopter crew who located him wet and hypothermic on nearby Minor Island. Other Coast Guard crews who assisted with the distress call included the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, a Coast Guard Station Port Angeles 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo.
The sunken vessel is reported to be submerged in 258 feet of water and is not a hazard to navigation.
Weather at the time of the incident was reported as 15 mph winds and 1-foot seas with an air temperature of 43 degrees.
