Coast Guard Photo
KING SALMON, Calif. – Coast Guard Group Humboldt Bay responded to a distress call today from passengers from a boat that sank in the vicinity of King Salmon this afternoon.
At 2:57 p.m. the Coast Guard received reports of people in the water in southern Humboldt Bay. Four people were crabbing on a small aluminum boat at the time of the incident.
A Coast Guard 47-ft Motor Lifeboat and two Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters responded. The Coast Guard small boat crew plucked two people that was clinging to a navigation piling in the bay. The MLB transported the two to Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay. An ambulance was waiting at the station, but no one needed to be transported for further medical evaluation.
The two remaining people swam to shore and were helped by good Samaritans. As one person walked to a waiting ambulance nearby, one helicopter landed and delivered the other person to an ambulance.
Initial notification of this incident came through a weak, barely audible cell phone call. The Coast Guard urges all mariners to carry a properly working VHF-radio with Channel 16 capabilities. VHF Channel 16 is an emergency channel similar to 911, and is the fastest way to call the Coast Guard for help.
The Coast Guard also encourages to all mariners to ensure their vessels are seaworthy before going underway. Mariners can contact the local Coast Guard Auxiliary for a free vessel safety inspection at http://www.vesselsafetycheck.org/.
