October 14, 2015
WARRENTON, Ore. — A boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment medically assisted a 28-year-old male who was reportedly experiencing symptoms of a seizure aboard a 70-foot fishing vessel approximately 12 miles northwest of the Columbia River entrance, Tuesday night.
A 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Cape Disappointment, in Ilwaco, Washington, launched to escort the vessel across the Columbia River bar and brought the vessel to the station around 11:30 p.m., where local emergency medical responders were waiting to transport the man by ambulance to Ocean Beach Hospital.
The crew of the fishing vessel Ocean Beaut contacted Coast Guard Sector Columbia River watchstanders at approximately 8:11 p.m., Tuesday, reporting a crewmember was suffering from symptoms of a seizure and needed medical attention.
"Our crew's fast response and teamwork with local emergency medical responders allowed us to escort this man to safey, " said Petty Officer 1st Class John Bennett, a watchstander at Sector Columbia River who received the call for help. "This type of collaboration and careful, calculated action is key to any search and rescue case."
At the time of the escort, the Columbia River bar conditions were reported to be 8-to-10 foot swells with 5-to-10 knot winds from the north.