A skipper radioed Mayday at around 10 a.m. last Friday about six miles west of the mouth of the Columbia River. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) sent several units to the rescue. They were able to record how the 35-foot vessel "Sandpiper" was capsized by a wave.
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The distress call came via the VHF marine band radio channel. An approximate position of the accident site could only be determined using radio tower triangulation.
Coastguard training sessions were diverted
The crew of a 47-foot motorised rescue boat and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from the Advanced Rescue Helicopter School (ARHS) took off from the Cape Disappointment station. It is considered the largest rescue unit of the USCG. Several crews from the National Motor Lifeboat School, who were training in the area, were diverted to assist with the emergency. Coast Guard crews were on scene around 10:40 a.m.
The rescue team was able to make contact with the skipper in distress, whose boat was already taking on water. The rescue took place in the most difficult weather conditions with extremely high wind speeds.
The lifeguard, a student at ARHS, was lowered into the water by the helicopter using a winch. As he approached, a breaking wave capsized the "Sandpiper" and swept it away. The skipper was thrown from his boat and suffered minor injuries. He was picked up by helicopter and given medical treatment on land. The man was reported to be in a stable condition.
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Police in Astoria investigating theft
After the injured man was handed over to medical staff, the local authorities informed the coastguard that the man was suspected of having stolen the ship. For this reason, the police in Astoria are now investigating.
For the deployed lifeguard John "Branch" Walton, this was the first life saved in his career. Just a few hours after the mission, he and his classmates officially completed their training at ARHS, making Walton an "Aviation Survival Technician 3rd Class".
