A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter air crew from Air Station Astoria, Ore., rescues three fishermen from the sinking fishing vessel Flying Fish 19 miles west of Tillamook Bay in the Pacific Ocean, July 21, 2015.
All three fishermen were rescued and treated by emergency medical technicians at Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi, Ore.
U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Astoria.
WARRENTON, Ore. — Coast Guard rescued three fishermen off a 30-foot fishing vessel sinking 19 miles off of Tillamook Bay, Tuesday.
The fishermen were safely hoisted from their Garibaldi based fishing vessel, Flying Fish, at 2:30 p.m. and transferred to awaiting emergency medical services at Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay in Garibaldi.
Search-and-rescue watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in Warrenton, responded to a mayday call from the crew of the fishing vessel shortly after 2 p.m., stating their vessel was taking on water. The watchstanders diverted the crews of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Tillamook Bay.
"This case is an excellent example of what to do in an emergency on the water," said Lt. Cmdr. James Gibson, Jayhawk helicopter pilot at Air Station Astoria. "The fishermen contacted the Coast Guard in a timely manner, were prepared with an emergency beacon, a back up radio, life jackets and immersion suits. Their preparation helped ensure their safety and made it easy for us to find them.”
After the Jayhawk crew safely rescued the fishermen, the MLB crew continued to the vessel’s last known location. Upon arrival to the area at 3:15 p.m., the crew reported that the fishing vessel had sunk and a debris field and an oily sheen were all that remained.
The vessel was carrying an unknown amount of fuel when it sank.
The cause of the sinking is unknown at this time.
The weather and sea conditions were reported as 6 to 10-foot seas with wind speeds of 11mph and gusts up to 27mph.
For information about the earlier rescue, visit: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2563886/