USCG file photo
The Coast Guard successfully rescued the 54-year-old man after being notified by family members at 9:19 a.m. The family knew he was stranded on an island, but did not know which one.
The man started in his inflatable raft in the Sacramento River and drifted downriver until his raft began to sink.
The Coast Guard used information provided by the family who was in contact with the man to determine where he was located. The man reported through family members that he could see Naval vessels and could hear reveille every morning. Due to the information gathered Coast Guard Sector San Francisco believed the man was stranded on one of the islands north of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.
In this situation the Coast Guard also worked with the cell phone provider to triangulate an area in which to search. The cell phone company provided the Coast Guard with a GPS position and a list of the last phone calls made. The Coast Guard routinely solicits assistance from cell phone company providers who provide useful cell phone location information for missing boaters.
The Coast Guard launched a 25-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Vallejo to respond. Once on scene, the rescue crew was able to locate the man who was waving a red flag.
The Coast Guard crew transferred the man to a pier in Martinez Marina where emergency medical technicians were waiting. The man was determined to be in stable condition.
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to file a float plan prior to getting underway. They can be as simple as letting a family member know where you are going and when to expect you back. The Coast Guard also reminds boaters of all kinds to be prepared for emergency situations by carrying lifejackets, VHF-FM radio, flares and survival gear.
