NORTH BEND, Ore. — The Coast Guard rescued three people from the Chetco River Thursday.
Coast Guard Station Chetco River received a call from an on-shore witness who reported seeing an overturned, 16-foot pleasure craft approximately one quarter-mile from Mill Beach in Brookings, Ore., with three people clinging to its side.
A 25-foot response boat crew was launched and, within seven minutes, recovered the three individuals from the water. None of the three were wearing lifejackets. Two of the overturned vessel’s passengers suffered minor scrapes and hypothermia, but the third was unresponsive. Station Chetco River personnel performed CPR on the man until local EMS crews arrived to transport him to Sutter Coast Hospital in Crescent City, California, where he was later pronounced deceased.
“The Coast Guard offers its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” said Lt. Cmdr. Clint Prindle, Chief of Surface Operations at Coast Guard Group North Bend, Ore. “Tragic moments such as these remind of us how important it is to always wear your lifejacket while boating.”
