Coast Guard stresses safety, responds to multiple cases on eve of July Fourth

The Coast Guard is reminding the public to exercise safety on and around the water as we head into the Fourth of July holiday. With less than 24 hours until the fourth, Coast Guard 13th District members have already responded to three people in the water after their vessel sank north of the Columbia River entrance, a disabled pleasure craft with five people aboard 1 mile south of Nehalem Bay and a kayaker clinging to his kayak 100 yards off the Tillamook coast. At 7:16 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a report from the crew of the pleasure craft Aggi K that their vessel was taking on water and their dewatering pumps could not keep up. Communications were lost shortly after. Watchstanders issued a urgent marine information broadcast and the crew of the charter vessel Pacific Dream responded and retrieved all three people, who were all wearing life jackets, out of the water. The vessel reportedly already sunk by the time the charter crew made it on scene. The charter crew transferred the three people to a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment, who transported them back to station for medical evaluation by emergency medical service personnel. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from sector searched the area for the vessel, but did not see it or any signs of pollution. At 8:52 a.m., sector watchstanders received notification over VHF channel 16 of a disabled 27-foot pleasure craft half a mile off Nedonna Beach with five people aboard. Watchstanders maintained a communication schedule with the mariners as a 47-Foot MLB crew from Coast Guard Station Tillamook launched in response. The boat crew placed the pleasure craft in a stern tow and safely towed them to the Garibaldi Marina. At 11:41 a.m. sector watchstanders received a relay from 911 dispatchers of a person in the water, clinging to his kayak, north of the Cape Meares Lighthouse. The reporting source was the kayakers wife, who advised that he was knocked off of his kayak about an hour before the distress call was made and might be hypothermic. A 47-foot MLB crew from station Tillamook and a Jayhawk helicopter crew from sector launched in response. A friend of the kayaker responded as well on a second kayak, but was unable to assist once he arrived. Local agency personnel also responded, with shore-side units and two personal watercraft launched out of Netarts. The 47-foot MLB crew arrived arrived and retrieved the kayaker from the water, as well as brought is friend aboard. A 29-Foot Response-Boat Small II crew from station arrived on scene and gathered both kayaks. The MLB crew moored back at station and transferred the two kayakers to waiting EMS personnel.