Sailboat Capsizes on Columbia River, June 27

A Coast Guard boat crew rescued one mariner from the water on the Columbia River near Deer Island, Monday evening, June 26.  Coast Guard Station Portland crewmembers aboard a 29-foot Response Boat-Small arrived on scene, pulled the man aboard their vessel and transported him to Kalama, Washington, where emergency medical services were waiting to take him to a local hospital. At 4 p.m., Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector Columbia River received a request for assistance from the tug Lori B. who initially reported the incident and kept a line of communication with the watchstanders until the Coast Guard rescue boat arrived. The boater was reportedly hypothermic after his 10 to 12-foot vessel capsized but was successfully retrieved from the water after the station crew tossed him a life ring. Also on scene was a Coast Guard Air Station Astoria crew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and personnel from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. Columbia County is currently towing the capsized vessel to shore.