WARRENTON, Ore. – A Coast Guard aircrew from Air Station Astoria, Oregon, hoisted a kayaker who was stranded on the rocks near Cape Falcon, Oregon, Saturday afternoon.
The man was safely hoisted and transported in good condition to Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi, Oregon.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, in Warrenton, were contacted via VHF-FM radio at about 1:10 p.m. by a male kayaker who was stranded on the rocks near Cape Falcon after his kayak was pushed against the rocks and sank. His location was not accessible by land.
The Coast Guard aircrew, aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, launched to assist and arrived on scene at 2:20 p.m. The aircrew safely hoisted the man, who was wearing a cold-water immersion suit and used a VHF-FM radio to communicate with the aircrew. He was transported in good condition to Station Tillamook Bay.
“He set himself up for success by having all of the right safety gear,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Burgard, an aviation survival technician and rescue swimmer aboard the Jayhawk. “When people take these kind of precautions it can save their lives when they get into trouble and it also makes our jobs a lot easier.”
Weather on scene was reported to be clear skies, with air temperature of 65 degrees, water temperature of 60 degrees and 8-foot seas.