SEATTLE — The Coast Guard began a search Thursday evening, June 17 for a 75-year-old man on a 14-foot skiff boat after being reported missing near Port Angeles. The man was reported to be missing by his friend who lost sight of his fishing vessel and was overdue to return to shore. The mariner was supposed to be fishing near his friends in a separate boat on a trip from Freshwater Bay to Crescent Bay Buoy 2 and back to Freshwater Bay. The mariner’s friends last talked to him via cell phone at 3:26 p.m. and about 10 minutes later saw him approximately a half mile west of the Crescent Bay Buoy 2 traveling on his kicker motor westward. The reporting party stated that after this, they lost sight of their friend. The reporting party stated the overdue mariner’s main engine was not working earlier in the day and he had been using his kicker to maneuver. The mariner also reportedly had a large amount of fishing gear and other general items on his vessel. Watchstanders at the 13th Coast Guard District command center were notified at 6:40 p.m. An urgent marine information broadcast was issued as an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles, and a small boat crew from Station Port Angeles were directed to respond and on scene. Multiple partner agencies and a rotation of Coast Guard crews participated in the coordinated search operations, including the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Vector and crew, as well as Naval Station Whidbey Island helicopter crews. Units involved in the search: Coast Guard Cutter Swordfish and crew; Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-60 Jayhawk crews; Coast Guard Station Port Angeles 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crews; Canadian Coast Guard Ship Vector and crew; U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk crew. The overdue mariner had no reported medical problems and was reported by his wife to most likely have had food and water onboard as well as life jackets. There were reportedly no VHF radios on board the boats of both the missing man and his friend. The Coast Guard urges mariners to have a reliable source of communication such as a VHF-FM marine-band radio and to always wear a life jacket in case of an emergency.
USCG Suspends Search
SEATTLE —The Coast Guard suspended the search Friday evening, June 18 for a mariner reported missing near Port Angeles. Missing is Patrick O’Brien, 75. The Coast Guard saturated an area of approximately 164 square miles, completing 20 searches over more than 21 hours. The search was suspended at 4 p.m., Friday. Multiple partner agencies and a rotation of Coast Guard crews participated in extensive coordinated search operations. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound command center were notified at 6:48 p.m. Thursday. An urgent marine information broadcast was issued as an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles, and a Coast Guard Station Port Angeles 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew deployed and arrived on scene at 7:30 p.m. Units involved in the search: Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders; Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin crews; Coast Guard Station Port Angeles boat crew; Coast Guard Cutter Swordfish and crew; Canadian Coast Guard Ship Vector and crew; U.S. Naval Station Whidbey Island MH-60 Seahawk crew; “We extend our appreciation to the U.S. Navy and Canadian Coast Guard who volunteered to assist in the large search effort. The decision to suspend a Search is never one we come to lightly,” said Scott Giard, the District 13 Search and Rescue program manager. “Our crews searched continuously for over 21 hours over the past two days with the hopes of bringing the missing boater home to their loved ones. Our greatest sympathies go out to the boater’s family at this time.”