USCG file photo
Coast Guard Station Neah Bay received a call via channel 16 from a good Samaritan advising that he was near Mushroom Rock towing a vessel that was taking on water and requested Coast Guard assistance. Station Neah Bay dispatched a 25-foot Response Boat and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat to assist. Coast Guard assets passed a dewatering pump and a crewmember boarded the distressed vessel to assist with the dewatering.
The four crew members, on board the distressed vessel, were removed and transferred to the Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) boat. The vessel was unable to be dewatered before it began listing sharply to port. At 11:21 a.m., the vessel capsized with the owner, one Coast Guardsman and a WDFW officer on board. All persons in the water were able to swim clear and were recovered.
All crews and boats involved returned to Station Neah Bay and all people that went into the water were evaluated by awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel. The owner was the only one determined to be hypothermic and has since made a full recovery and has been released from the nearby clinic in Neah Bay.
The owner of the 26-foot distressed vessel, which remained afloat in the Straits of Juan de Fuca, has insurance with Boat US, and has established a claim number and salvage contract with Vessel Assist out of Friday Harbor, Wash. His insurance will cover all salvage, vessel removal and any discharge.
