Archive image: A Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew flies over the Strait of Juan de Fuca during a search and rescue (SAR) demonstration at the Port Angeles Maritime Festival, June 7, 2025.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Annika Hirschler.
SEATTLE – A Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles MH-65E Dolphin helicopter aircrew conducted the rescue of a woman from Puget Sound 2 nautical miles off Edmonds Pier. Friday, July 17, 2026.
At approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, July 17, Snohomish County 911 notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound that a woman had entered the water off Edmonds Pier.
Watchstanders immediately coordinated the launch of a MH-65E Dolphin Short-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew from Air Station Port Angeles, dispatched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) crew from Coast Guard Station Seattle, and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Blue Shark to search for the missing woman.
The Edmonds Fire Department and Washington State Ferries also assisted in the search.
The MH-65E Dolphin aircrew hoisted the woman and transferred her to local EMS at Paine Field.
U.S. Coast Guard video.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound.
U.S. Coast Guard Northwest.
U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area.
During search efforts, the rescue swimmer from the Air Station Port Angeles MH-65E Dolphin aircrew utilized his handheld night vision device to spot splashing in the water, nearly 2 nautical miles from the shoreline. The rescue swimmer maintained visual contact and guided the MH-65E aircrew to the scene, where they located and hoisted the survivor. She was displaying signs of hypothermia and transported to Paine Field at 1:28 a.m.
Once on the ground, the MH-65E Dolphin SRR Helicopter aircrew met emergency medical services (EMS) personnel at the airport and the survivor was transported for further medical treatment.
«We appreciate the expansive search efforts that went into rescuing this individual,” said Lt. Cmdr. Cori F. Sanchez, the MH-65 Dolphin commander. “With the help of the Edmonds Fire Department and Coast Guard Station Seattle, we were able to find her quickly and bring her to EMS. Her splashing in the water was critical in helping the aircrew locate her. It’s vital to remember that if in distress, make yourself as visible as possible, by waving arms or using signaling devices when possible.”
Weather conditions at the time of the search were 3 mph winds, 1-foot waves, 57-degree air temperature, and 53-degree water temperature.
–USCG–
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