USCG Rescues West of Coos Bay, June 6

Two Coast Guard crews rescued four people stranded during two cases near Coos Bay Saturday night, June 4. An an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station North Bend hoisted a man who was reportedly stranded on a rock at Shore Acres State Park, and a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Coos Bay transferred three people to emergency medical services personnel after they were reportedly stranded along the shoreline of Cape Arago. The first case occurred around 9:20 p.m. when watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a report from Oregon State Police that three people were stranded on a rock after the onset of high tide near Shore Acres State Park just south of the Coos Bay entrance. Crews from Air Station North Bend and Station Coos Bay launched in response. State police recovered two of the individuals, and the helicopter crew was able to safely hoist and transfer the remaining man to the air station. “It was a dangerous case and a dangerous rescue,” said Lt. Jesse Cremeans, who piloted the helicopter during the hoist. “The tide can sneak up on you if you aren’t aware of the forecast. Visitors need to be incredibly careful going out on rocks off shore, or don’t go out at all.” Approximately two hours later at 11:15 p.m., Sector North Bend watchstanders received a report of three people stranded along the shoreline of Cape Arago Highway in Coos Bay County at high tide. A 29-foot Response Boat-Small II crew from Station Coos Bay located a woman in the water, who had reportedly been screaming for help, while an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew stood by to assist if needed. The boat crew then recovered an additional man and woman from an island nearby and transferred all three people to emergency medical services personnel waiting on shore around midnight. The woman was reportedly not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the rescue and was experiencing symptoms of hypothermia. There were no reported injuries for the other two individuals.