Two men and dog rescued by USCG
A US Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter operating out of Port Angeles, Washington, rescued two men and a dog after their boat had been blown away from the shores of Whidbey Island by winds of up to 45 mph (72 km/h), and five to eight-ft (1.5 to 2.4-m) swells.
A US Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter operating out of Port Angeles, Washington, rescued two men and a dog after their boat had been blown away from the shores of Whidbey Island by winds of up to 45 mph (72 km/h), and five to eight-ft (1.5 to 2.4-m) swells.
According to Petty Officer Nate Littlejohn, the USCG MH-65 Dolphin helicopter that was dispatched to the scene found the men and their canine friend adrift approximately one mile off Long Point in Penn Cove. The 18-ft (5.5-m) boat had no engine or sail, or any other means of propulsion. A rescue swimmer was lowered from the Dolphin and the men and the dog were hoisted safely up. Littlejohn said that the men were checked into Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville, before subsequently being released with a clean bill of health.
Apparently the men had been adrift in choppy waters for nearly two hours after being blown away from the shore – they had been trying to trailer the boat.
You can watch a short video of the operation below.