The red arrow shows Clatsop Spit, a point near the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, where a Coast Guard crew from Air Station Astoria hoisted a mariner reportedly suffering from hypothermia, Saturday.
Boating near Clatsop Spit can be treacherous, due to dangerously shallow breakwater at the mouth of the Columbia River.
Photo taken from Google Maps.
ASTORIA, Ore. — A Coast Guard aircrew hoisted a mariner from a vessel that grounded at the mouth of the Columbia River near Clatsop Spit, Saturday.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria rescued and transferred the subject, who was reportedly suffering from hypothermia, to emergency medical service personnel waiting at the air station.
At 7:39 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Columbia River watchstanders received a report from the operator of the 18-foot pleasure craft, stating that the vessel was grounded and had lost the anchor near buoy 12.
A Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment boat crew aboard a 29-foot Response Boat-Small II arrived on scene but were unable to locate the vessel due to heavy fog.
The Coast Guard crew and subject vessel utilized sounding horns to locate one another. A cell phone ping was conducted with a resulting position placing the subject near buoy 14.
Coast Guard rescue assets diverted to that position and good Samaritans on shore reported they had visual on the vessel, confirming the location.
Mariner was reported to be in stable condition.
Weather at the time of the hoist was foggy with 10-15 mph winds and 5-foot sea swells.
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