Archive image: The rescue swimmer Noah Colburn, an aviation survival technician stationed at Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, prepares for a cliff hoisting evolution in Pacifica, California.
Cliff rescue training allows crews to simulate rescues in difficult terrain, safely.
U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon.
SAN FRANCISCO — A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65E Dolphin aircrew rescue two boaters stranded in the Napa Sonoma Wildlife Marsh, in Napa, Wednesday evening.
The MH-65E Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew hoisted the two boaters after locating them 2 nautical miles south of Napa County Airport in the Napa-Sonoma Wildlife Marsh.
Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received a notification from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) requesting assistance to medevac (medical evacuation) two stranded boaters aboard a 19-foot vessel while boating in the Napa-Sonoma Marsh.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., Sector San Francisco watchstanders diverted the MH-65E Dolphin SRR Helicopter aircrew, from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, to locate the mariners. The rescue helicopter aircrew arrived on scene at approximately 8:45 p.m., deployed the rescue swimmer and hoisted the distressed boaters into the aircraft. They were then transferred to Napa County Fire Department at the Napa Airport.
“I quickly realized that a rescue boat was not going to be possible, due to the tides, so our crew knew we needed to assist,” said Lt. Cmdr. Molly R. Smith, pilot, Air Station San Francisco. “Given the cold weather conditions, our priority was ensuring the safety of the boaters and preventing hypothermia.”
The Coast Guard urges all mariners and anyone planning to be out on the water to always file a float plan, check the weather and tide conditions before heading out.
–USCG–
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