A disabled personal watercraft is pictured secured to the back of a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Coast Guard Station Bellingham, Wash., while en route to Fairhaven Marina Park, Jan. 16, 2016.
The vessel operator had signaled for help using a red flare, which was seen by an Airlift Northwest helicopter crew who promptly notified watch standers at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Cody Hall.
SEATTLE — A Coast Guard boatcrew rescued a man from a disabled personal watercraft in southern Bellingham Bay near Eliza Island, Saturday.
A 45-foot Respond Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Bellingham safely transferred the individual to emergency medical service personnel waiting at the Fairhaven Marine Park.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle received a report at 4:04 p.m. of a red flare sighted from an Airlift Northwest helicopter crew near the island. Sector watchstanders issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and the station boatcrew launched.
Airlift Northwest aircrew remained on scene as the station boatcrew recovered the individual who confirmed that they had fired the flare.
“Outstanding job on behalf of the crews at Station Bellingham and Airlift Northwest for their coordinated efforts in locating the source of the flare,” said Lt. Eric Romero, command duty officer at Sector Puget Sound. “We also commend the individual for having flares on hand with which to affectively signal their distress and highly encourage other small craft users to be just as well equipped.”
Weather on scene was 17 mph winds, with a 48 F air temperature and 52 F water temperature.